Monday Morning Leafs Report: Justin Holl, Jake Muzzin and a problem brewing on defence - The Athletic
As Holl pointed out, he and Muzzin performed well(ish) when the Leafs were stacking up wins in November. Their recent defensive troubles are also tied to a thinner forward group that misses Mitch Marner, not to mention glaring turnovers.
“You gotta keep a long-term approach to it,” Holl said.
That said, more than a third of the season is gone and Holl remains not quite right.
Which makes for the possibility of a trade that nets the club someone better.
Problem No. 1: Cap space. Problem No. 2: Assets to trade.
Dermott ($1.5 million cap hit) and Holl ($2 million) both have another year left on their contracts. Clearing them out would create some wiggle room — though how much value does either one have with the way their respective seasons have gone?
Same goes with Nick Ritchie, who’s eating up $2.5 million in space for another year.
Injuries have kept the Leafs from accruing any additional space.
The lack of a clear path to a trade doesn’t mean that one doesn’t exist, as assistant GM Brandon Pridham has proven alongside GM Kyle Dubas in the past.
Creativity has been a strong suit.
The Leafs could insist on salary being retained in a deal, as was the case with the Nick Foligno acquisition last season. That comes at a cost though. This issue is large enough that the Leafs may just have to pay it.
