Pending tough decision for Maple Leafs ahead of season opener next week!

It was expected, but it doesn’t make it any easier for the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Cap Friendly, the Maple Leafs are $2,943,950 over their LTIR cap overage space – with defenseman Jake Muzzin and goalie Matt Murray on LTIR, the Leafs can exceed the cap by $10,312,500. The team therefore faces tough decisions to stay salary cap compliant by Oct. 11, their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Maple Leafs and general manager Brad Treliving will need to maneuver the cap in order to get under by the near $3 million they are currently over.

There was some hope with the bad news announced on Monday that defenseman Connor Timmins will be out “week-to-week” and may be placed on LTIR, creating an extra $1.1 million in LTIR overage space. However, the Maple Leafs still need to free up another $1,843,950 in cap space.

The Maple Leafs are apparently looking to stick to three goaltenders on the roster. Neither Martin Jones nor Joe Woll are waivers exempt. Up front, three players are waivers exempt in forwards Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmgren. Sending all three down to the AHL would create enough space to keep the team cap compliant. But Knies sure deserves to crack the main roster, and therefore Dylan Gambrell, who is currently suffering from a concussion, could be the one sent down to the AHL, allowing the team to keep Knies on the roster.

The idea of a trade has emerged, though it remains to be seen if the Maple Leafs will be willing to pull the trigger on a transaction. One thing is clear: Toronto will need to work the cap as the season progresses to stay compliant.

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