Here are a couple of thoughts since moving day as the buds have been playing better.
I do realize they do this every year and this does not give us reason to be optimistic with the current squad, just that there are 8 points that are worth considering.
1 - As we have seen before, for some reason the leafs play well without Sundin. I know it is not fair but it seems like asking the kids for some help works. I think it supports the idea to not resign Matts and let him decide his own fate outside of the leaf organization.
2 - Whenever McCabe is hurt, the leafs have a horrible record. I know he makes defensive mistakes, but he seems to make a positive net difference. Next year his cap hit is 6.1m. You can see below that his salary drops to 4.1 in 2009 and 2010. That is pretty good for 09/10 and 10/11.
<table cellspacing="1" border="0" class="normal">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="playeractive"> McCabe, Bryan</td>
<td class="nationality"> 
</td>
<td class="position"> D</td>
<td class="age"> 32</td>
<td class="capnumber"> 5.750</td>
<td class="totaldays"> 187</td>
<td class="caphit"> 5.750</td>
<td class="salary"> </td>
<td class="salaryregular"> 7.150</td>
<td class="salaryregular"> 7.150</td>
<td class="salaryregular"> 6.150</td>
<td class="salaryregular"> 4.150</td>
<td class="salaryregular"> 4.150</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
3 - I think that Kaberle is also relatively well priced expecially if the cap goes up by 5 million for next year. Kaberle is flat lined at 4.25 million until the end of his contract.
4 - Anton Stralman is playing very well at 0.625 he is a steal.
5 - Mark Bell is at 2.5 million for next year that is a horrible deal. I do not know how to get rid of him but I guess a throw in somewhere would be good.
6 - Stajan and Wellwood are going to demand a raise next year up from the 0.9 that they are at now. Signing Stajan is a no brainer but I think that they need to get Wellwood in around a milion or let him walk.
7 - Tucker is expendible if we can move him at 3.0 million as is Pony (2.4) and Blake (4.5). I realize that Pony is probably the only guy who can be moved. But I think a team that needs size could use him.
8 - Keep in Mind Toskala goes up to 4.0 million for next year, thereby consuming more space.
