<p>After adding Jani Hakanpaa on a one-year, $1.47-million contract and the expectation to eventually sign Max Pacioretty to a one-year contract, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has some cleaning up to do when it comes to the team&#8217;s cap space.</p>
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<p>According to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs">PuckPedia,</a> the Leafs are currently $1.06 million over the cap as training camps are set to begin next week. Treliving has been busy of late and the work continues &#8211; here are four Maple Leafs who are prime trade candidates with the need to shed salary:</p>
<h2>Nick Robertson</h2>
<p>A layup for the list. <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-rfa-forward-nick-robertson-requests-trade-toronto-maple-leafs">Robertson asked for a trade</a> earlier this offseason and made it known to management he&#8217;d prefer a change of scenery, even with a new coach in Craig Berube behind the bench. The former second-round pick has dealt with a number of major injuries since joining the organization and has found himself stuck in a numbers/financial game a few times.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old has a prime chance to win a top-nine left-wing role with the Leafs this season, however, with Max Pacioretty joining Toronto for training camp, it could become the same ol&#8217; story for Robertson. Moving him for a prospect or draft pick could create some cap space, but is it enough to start the season cap compliant once Pacioretty signs his deal?</p>
<p>With Hakanpaa signed for the season and Pacioretty expected to end up with a contract as well, they will need to move out more than just Robertson off the books. As far as potential trade destinations go for the shoot-first winger, teams like the Anaheim Ducks or San Jose Sharks make a ton of sense considering they have top-six opportunities available. If Robertson finds himself in the right situation when it comes to a trusting coach who plays him more than 15 minutes a game and gives him consistent power-play time, there&#8217;s certainly potential that he will score 20-25 goals this season.</p>
<h2>David Kampf</h2>
<p>When the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-maple-leafs-sign-steven-lorentz-to-professional-tryout-agreement">Maple Leafs signed Steven Lorentz to a PTO</a> it raised some questions about Kampf&#8217;s future in Toronto. Especially with Max Domi possibly suiting up down the middle and Pontus Holmberg developing into a defensive-first centre.</p>
<p>Kampf&#8217;s current contract was one of the first orders of business for Treliving last summer and at $2.4 million AAV for the next three seasons, the Leafs GM may now have to include a sweetener if an onlooking team is going to take on the full cap hit. The 29-year-old Kampf does own a modified no-trade clause, however, it covers just 10 teams, leaving Treliving with some options.</p>
<p>Toronto has enough in Auston Matthews, Domi and John Tavares to win key faceoffs, and they&#8217;d be able to manage on the penalty kill as Berube looks to create new special teams units. Moving Kampf would give the Leafs a chance to keep Robertson and sign Pacioretty to an NHL deal. Seems like a no-brainer to me.</p>
<h2>Conor Timmins</h2>
<p>Timmins is in a tough spot after what was a frustrating season last year. He got off to a strong start during the preseason and was looking like an option for the bottom pair, but unfortunately couldn&#8217;t secure consistent playing time and then eventually caught Mono in February.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old finished last season appearing in 25 games, recording 10 points. He&#8217;s signed for $1.1 million this season and will be a restricted free agent at season&#8217;s end, which makes him a more appealing trade target due to the team control moving forward.</p>
<p>Timmins is best suited on a bottom pair and would excel with more power-play time on the second unit, something he&#8217;s not likely in line for in Toronto. Treliving added veterans Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and with Hakanpaa now on board, the numbers aren&#8217;t adding up at all for Timmins&#8217; future with the Maple Leafs. Perhaps Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh would be interested in reuniting with the former Greyhound.</p>
<h2>Timothy Liljegren</h2>
<p>Moving Liljegren would create the most cap space of the bunch.  Yes, he was just extended for two years at $3 million AAV, but it&#8217;s worth pointing out that Liljegren was the only contract Treliving handed out this summer that had zero trade protection included.</p>
<p>After the extension was announced in late June, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agOWNJ_pYco">Chris Johnston reported</a> the Swedish blueliner could still very much be involved in trade discussions throughout the offseason. “We’ll see if Timothy Liljegren maybe still gets traded,” Johnston said on the July 2 episode of The Chris Johnston Show. “I know he was signed to a two-year extension but I don’t think you can entirely rule out a trade in his circumstance yet. They’re still going to keep chipping away at the roster.&#8221;</p>
<p>The right-handed defenseman has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his tenure in Toronto and he&#8217;s left many frustrated with his performance at times. Heading into 2024-25, if he doesn&#8217;t get moved, Liljegren appears set to pair with a fellow Swede in Ekman-Larsson, who could be a perfect steady veteran to compliment his game. Meanwhile, the towering 6-foot-6 Hakanpaa is going to be pushing for Liljegren&#8217;s spot in the rotation.</p>
<p>Treliving and company have some options to get creative and re-tool the Maple Leafs roster as the new season is on the horizon. Cap space has always been a hot topic in Toronto and heading into &#8217;24-25 training camp, trade conversations are sizzling.</p>


After adding Jani Hakanpaa on a one-year, $1.47-million contract and the expectation to eventually sign Max Pacioretty to a one-year contract, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has some cleaning up to do when it comes to the team's cap space.

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According to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs">PuckPedia,</a> the Leafs are currently $1.06 million over the cap as training camps are set to begin next week. Treliving has been busy of late and the work continues - here are four Maple Leafs who are prime trade candidates with the need to shed salary:
<h2>Nick Robertson</h2>
A layup for the list. <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-rfa-forward-nick-robertson-requests-trade-toronto-maple-leafs">Robertson asked for a trade</a> earlier this offseason and made it known to management he'd prefer a change of scenery, even with a new coach in Craig Berube behind the bench. The former second-round pick has dealt with a number of major injuries since joining the organization and has found himself stuck in a numbers/financial game a few times.

The 23-year-old has a prime chance to win a top-nine left-wing role with the Leafs this season, however, with Max Pacioretty joining Toronto for training camp, it could become the same ol' story for Robertson. Moving him for a prospect or draft pick could create some cap space, but is it enough to start the season cap compliant once Pacioretty signs his deal?

With Hakanpaa signed for the season and Pacioretty expected to end up with a contract as well, they will need to move out more than just Robertson off the books. As far as potential trade destinations go for the shoot-first winger, teams like the Anaheim Ducks or San Jose Sharks make a ton of sense considering they have top-six opportunities available. If Robertson finds himself in the right situation when it comes to a trusting coach who plays him more than 15 minutes a game and gives him consistent power-play time, there's certainly potential that he will score 20-25 goals this season.
<h2>David Kampf</h2>
When the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-maple-leafs-sign-steven-lorentz-to-professional-tryout-agreement">Maple Leafs signed Steven Lorentz to a PTO</a> it raised some questions about Kampf's future in Toronto. Especially with Max Domi possibly suiting up down the middle and Pontus Holmberg developing into a defensive-first centre.

Kampf's current contract was one of the first orders of business for Treliving last summer and at $2.4 million AAV for the next three seasons, the Leafs GM may now have to include a sweetener if an onlooking team is going to take on the full cap hit. The 29-year-old Kampf does own a modified no-trade clause, however, it covers just 10 teams, leaving Treliving with some options.

Toronto has enough in Auston Matthews, Domi and John Tavares to win key faceoffs, and they'd be able to manage on the penalty kill as Berube looks to create new special teams units. Moving Kampf would give the Leafs a chance to keep Robertson and sign Pacioretty to an NHL deal. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
<h2>Conor Timmins</h2>
Timmins is in a tough spot after what was a frustrating season last year. He got off to a strong start during the preseason and was looking like an option for the bottom pair, but unfortunately couldn't secure consistent playing time and then eventually caught Mono in February.

The 25-year-old finished last season appearing in 25 games, recording 10 points. He's signed for $1.1 million this season and will be a restricted free agent at season's end, which makes him a more appealing trade target due to the team control moving forward.

Timmins is best suited on a bottom pair and would excel with more power-play time on the second unit, something he's not likely in line for in Toronto. Treliving added veterans Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and with Hakanpaa now on board, the numbers aren't adding up at all for Timmins' future with the Maple Leafs. Perhaps Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh would be interested in reuniting with the former Greyhound.
<h2>Timothy Liljegren</h2>
Moving Liljegren would create the most cap space of the bunch.  Yes, he was just extended for two years at $3 million AAV, but it's worth pointing out that Liljegren was the only contract Treliving handed out this summer that had zero trade protection included.

After the extension was announced in late June, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agOWNJ_pYco">Chris Johnston reported</a> the Swedish blueliner could still very much be involved in trade discussions throughout the offseason. “We’ll see if Timothy Liljegren maybe still gets traded,” Johnston said on the July 2 episode of The Chris Johnston Show. “I know he was signed to a two-year extension but I don’t think you can entirely rule out a trade in his circumstance yet. They’re still going to keep chipping away at the roster."

The right-handed defenseman has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his tenure in Toronto and he's left many frustrated with his performance at times. Heading into 2024-25, if he doesn't get moved, Liljegren appears set to pair with a fellow Swede in Ekman-Larsson, who could be a perfect steady veteran to compliment his game. Meanwhile, the towering 6-foot-6 Hakanpaa is going to be pushing for Liljegren's spot in the rotation.

Treliving and company have some options to get creative and re-tool the Maple Leafs roster as the new season is on the horizon. Cap space has always been a hot topic in Toronto and heading into '24-25 training camp, trade conversations are sizzling.

4 Maple Leafs trade candidates as GM Brad Treliving cleans up salary cap situation

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