One thing to keep in mind when discussing Steckel vs. Connolly, or Komarov vs. Lombardi potentially, is that if the thing about trading half the salary and/or cap space holds up, then it's far more plausible to see a team take a guy like Connolly for a year at 2.5 or Lombardi at 2.0 if they have a hole to fill.
I'm not saying you'd get much back, but if Carlyle leans towards Komarov or Steckel types over guys with bigger paydays, that new rule should make it easier for them to move the unneeded guys out right away.
That being said, I wouldn't expect moves like that before the 19th. More likely it's a slightly deeper roster this year to start in preparation for the grind of a tight schedule, but you can be sure injuries will happen here and throughout the league and someone would bite at half the price or more for any of the Leafs one year rentals if it turns out Carlyle leans towards the grittier types in the bottom 6.