After sinking $40.5 Million into Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander things get tight, this is not counting Morgan Reilly either.
During free agency, Dubas scooped up discount depth, and one of these depth pieces including Stanely cup-winning Nicolas Aube-Kubel, at a discount of $1 million for a year term.
Michael Bunting is also seemingly due for a raise after next season, with his career year of 63 points in 2021-2022.
Bunting spent most of his season, until his injury on the first line with Matthews. During that period, Matthews was far more dangerous with Bunting on the ice, than without generating (64.7 HDCF%).
The Leafs have a tough decision but can find the cash to retain Bunting with a raise, at this point you wonder how strong the SOO Greyhounds connection is, this late in the in the off-season with Bunting able to sign an extension before his contract expires.
POLL | ||
30 AOUT | 208 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs cap issues have them poised to lose another top 6 forward Will the Maple Leafs be able to retain Michael Bunting? | ||
No, they won't be able to afford him | 56 | 26.9 % |
Yes, they'll find a way | 110 | 52.9 % |
Only if they move one of the Core 4 | 42 | 20.2 % |
List of polls |