Circle back to the end of the 2023-24 preseason. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving had to make some tough decisions. Prospect Fraser Minten forced his way onto the NHL roster to start the year and next thing you know Nick Robertson was surprisingly sent down and Treliving traded Sam Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2024 fifth-round pick.
Two moves solely based on a numbers game, both on the ice and against the salary cap. A scenario which could easily creep into the picture once again. Who will be cap casualties ahead of next season? The Maple Leafs have a few players that stand out above the rest.
Let’s start with Conor Timmins and his $1.1 million salary. The former Soo Greyhound had a really tough year off the ice in 2023-24 and is looking to regain the form he showed during the preseason, where his offensive game was on display. Unfortunately for Timmins, Treliving went out and secured some veteran help on the blueline in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev. It’s pushed Timmins down to the seventh spot and while most teams would carry seven defencemen, don’t necessarily expect the Maple Leafs to do so to open next season.
Treliving could have some tough decisions to make up front as Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten could push for roster spots which means something needs to give on the Maple Leafs roster. Neither prospect is currently counting towards the salary cap and with only $1.2 million to work with, there will need to be an addition by subtraction at some point to help balance the books.
Timmins is a prime target. Toronto doesn’t need him, even as a healthy scratch if they have six healthy blueliners. He’s on a one-way deal so he’ll need to clear waivers, and considering he’s right-handed and in his mid-20s, there will likely be some interest around the league. The knock on Timmins is that he’s not consistently available to play, as he’s only appeared in 91 NHL games since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft. With all things considered, there’s certainly a chance he clears waivers.
Sending down Timmins and his $1.1 million could be enough to get both Minten and Cowan on the Leafs’ roster. A lot will also depend on the future of Nick Robertson and if he sticks to his guns with wanting a trade out of Toronto.
Next up among potential cap casualties would be David Kampf and his $2.4 million AAV. Kampf is signed through the 2026-27 season and does hold a 10-team modified no-trade clause. Considering Treliving may have overpaid on Kampf’s extension, there’s also a chance a small sweetener would need to be included here to gain some interest in trading for Kampf.
The defensive-minded centre is slotted in at likely the four-hole for Craig Berube as Pontus Holmberg and Minten are going to battle for the third-line centre role at training camp. If Minten showcases he’s more than capable and Holmberg appears to be developing, Kampf mid as well pack his bags.
Moving his salary for the next three seasons would be a huge turnaround for Treliving and the Maple Leafs while creating some salary cap flexibility. Kampf recorded 19 points in 78 games last season and while he wins a ton of faceoffs and is a solid penalty killer, he’s replaceable at every end of the spectrum.
After Kampf, things get a little shady as far as options go, but one player to watch would be Ryan Reaves. The 37-year-old Reaves is on the books for two more seasons at $1.3 million and while you’d think an enforcer would be in Berube’s good books and a lock for the fourth line, if he struggles to keep up at training camp and into the preseason and both Minten and Cowan are impressing the Leafs’ brass, Reaves could wind up riding the bus with the Marlies. At his age and with term on his deal, he’s likely clearing waivers without any issues.
Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs will have lots of internal competition at training camp, especially up front among their bottom six. On defense, their top three pairs are locks so Timmins could easily wind up being stuck in a numbers game and pushed to waivers. Kampf and Reaves on the other hand are less likely, but certainly still two players to keep an eye on.
The Maple Leafs have some prospects who are going to push for NHL jobs and Treliving will need to make a tough decision once the preseason concludes. Something Sam Lafferty knows all about.
