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Maple Leafs gain major cap space following moves involving Chris Tanev & Dakota Joshua


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Alexander Cole
January 28, 2026  (10:31 PM)
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Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced by club president Brendan Shanahan (left) at a press conference at Scotiabank Arena.
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs stars Dakota Joshua and Chris Tanev have been out for a long time, and the team is finally making arrangements that have to do with the cap.

In case you haven't noticed, Dakota Joshua and Chris Tanev have missed a lot of hockey as of late, and no one knows when they will return.
Tanev ended up hurting his groin, and there is a chance he needs surgery. Meanwhile, Joshua has been dealing with a lacerated kidney.
The team had been refusing to put either player on the long-term injured reserve, despite the fact that they could save some cap space.
Well, that appears to have changed, as Joshua and Tanev are now officially on LTIR for the foreseeable future. This is perfect timing with the trade deadline coming up.

Chris Tanev and Dakota Joshua on LTIR

According to Puck Pedia, the Leafs are saving millions of dollars here, and they could save even more depending on the circumstances.
They're now under the cap & accruing space, and could add $1.65M annual cap hit today (or $2.19M on deadline day) and be right at the cap.

In addition, they could use LTIR & add an additional $7M in cap hit assuming no other roster moves or LTIR activations.
This is a net benefit for the Maple Leafs, who are currently in a pretty desperate position when it comes to their roster.
The team is eight points out of a playoff spot, and they have no choice but to get creative here; otherwise, they will be left behind in short order.
Going forward, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to start winning some games. If they don't, the season is going to be over very soon.
On Thursday, they get to play the Seattle Kraken, which will be the perfect test for this team's resilience.
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Maple Leafs gain major cap space following moves involving Chris Tanev & Dakota Joshua

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