When contending teams in the NHL are close to the salary cap, they need cheap depth that can fill holes around stars up and down the lineup. That depth can be anyone of a certain skill level, but teams tend to find younger players from within the system who are better for this role for a variety of reasons — including skating speed and the low cost of RFA contracts at the bottom of the spectrum. The Maple Leafs are currently in a cap predicament with some major holes to fill on defense and at forward.
Only Kyle Dubas knows what he has up his sleeves to help the Leafs get that top-pair right-handed defenseman and top-line left-winger to play in the top-six, but until those trades are announced (Kyle, I swear, don’t do anything before this article goes live), we’re just going to have to work with the status quo and see how we do.