First re-signing... Connor Carrick (1yr, 1.3M)

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1009510478513504256

https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/1009510863282135040

Seems costly for a guy who only played 47 games and wasn't necessarily trusted by the coach. 

https://www.tsn.ca/video/mckenzie-i-get-the-feeling-matthews-marner-want-to-wait-until-next-summer-to-sign~1415103

Well, that won't be great for the cap space picture after the upcoming season.  I can only imagine that, assuming they are both healthy, they will put up numbers that only increase their next contracts.  Don't blame the players for (possibly) wanting to do that, but if it happens it won't be to the benefit of the team long term.

With the news that Seattle has submitted their expansion application and knowing full well that the NHL wants to expand there, I think its very likely that it happens.  The NHL has already said that the expansion draft will follow the same format as last time.  While its still 2 years away, its interesting to see who the Leafs will likely be protecting barring any trades.  Note, my list assumes only RFA's are resigned and not UFA's (ie Gardiner doesn't need to be protected because he's already gone).

7 Forward (5 Locks based on their play TODAY):
Matthews
Marner
Nylander
Kadri
Kapanen
?
?

3 Defensemen Locks (based on their play TODAY and expectations for Liljegren):
Rielly
Dermott
Liljegren

1 Goalie:
Andersen

Potentially Exposed Forwards:
Hyman
Brown
Johnsson
Sosh
Leivo
Grundstrom
Brooks
Bracco

Potentially Exposed Defensemen
Zaitsev
Borgman
Rosen (I don't think he'll be in the org by that time)
Carrick (I don't think he'll be in the org by that time)

Hi Everyone,

As the news that the NHLPA agreed to the NHL's proposal for re-alignment came out today, I thought I'd share this idea I had for re-alignment.

I'm not a big fan of the re-alignment proposal.  Having 16 teams fighting for 8 playoff spots in the East and 14 teams fighting for 8 in the West in completely unbalanced.  I have a feeling the NHL is planning on expanding to 32 teams, so this sets us up for that, but even my idea addresses that.

Sticking with the two conference, four division format my idea keeps 15 teams in each conference and a division in each conference the ability to absorb an expansion team.  The same rules would apply as currently proposed.  3 teams from each division make the playoffs, with the final two spots per conference going to the teams with the best records:

Eastern Conference

Division #1.  This should be named something to reflect the fact that these 8 cities were the original teams in the NHL  (Ottawa and Pittsburgh had teams back in the 1910-1920's):

Toronto
Montreal
Boston
New York Rangers
Detroit
Chicago
Ottawa
Pittsburgh

Atlantic Division:

New Jersey
New York Islanders
Washington
Philadelphia
Carolina
Florida
Tampa Bay

Western Conference

Central Division

Buffalo
Columbus
Winnipeg
Minnesota
St. Louis
Nashville
Dallas
Colorado (can move to the Pacific as well)

Pacific Division


LA
Anaheim
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton

What does everyone think?

This is a touching story about Dominic Moore.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/nhl-veteran-dominic-moore-opens-up-about-his-wife-their-life-and-her-death/article9262910/

I thought he was a fantastic bottom 6 player and hope the time off over the last year won't prevent him from getting another shot in the NHL- whenever he's ready.