A lot on Leafs GM Dubas’ plate which could include a big splash on trade market!

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ postseason might have ended - once again - earlier than anyone anticipated, however, this might have been a good thing for general manager Kyle Dubas, who has so much on his plate. 

As pointed out by Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun, Dubas faces a tough month of July for shaping next season’s roster. If Dubas won’t part with an expensive forwards like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares or William Nylander, he will need to follow the same plan as last offseason to address his roster depth issues. 

Koshan believes the Maple Leafs won’t be able to re-sign Zach Hyman unless they can clear some cap space. Sure, they are expected to lose a player to Seattle in the upcoming expansion draft. Center Alex Kerfoot or a defenseman like Travis Dermott or Justin Holl could be joining the Kraken and hence be off the Leafs’ payroll. 

He however explains how the Leafs could decide to make a splash on the trade market this summer, depending on how much money they can free up after the expansion draft, and go after a winger like Conor Garland of the Arizona Coyotes. 

If not, fans will need to get ready for the same plan as last year’s: signing some veterans to one-year deals as he did in the free agency market last summer. Dubas has managed to be creative with cap money and so, we do expect him to be able to pull it off again. 

Who knows? Maybe Dubas will acquire a player on permanent long term injury reserve to free up extra space for other additions.

To be continued…