Buffalo Sabres division rivals’ 2023 offseasons Part II: Leafs falling?

Major questions surround the Leafs

Last month, I wrote a piece wondering about the “holdup” regarding Rasmus Dahlin’s inevitable extension. And I think we’re all also wondering about what’s in store for Owen Power, and whether he opts for a long-term contract or decides to take a bridge deal to better set himself up for a payday when the cap increases.

These are questions most fans of the Buffalo Sabres are asking themselves, which is trivial compared to all the questions facing the Maple Leafs. As it stands, goaltender Matt Murray and blueliner Jake Muzzin are currently on injured reserve, and there is no clear-cut answer for when they may return. Murray’s status is the real head-scratcher, as Hockey-Reference simply has his injury listed as “undisclosed” since Toronto placed him onto the list in late July.

Toronto is also in the process of trying to extend star forward Auston Matthews this season, along with potentially William Nylander. But one look at Toronto’s overall projected cap space via Cap Friendly, and you can see why this is yet another huge question mark.

While it wouldn’t surprise me if Treliving somehow was able to hang onto Nylander, I can’t help but ask myself – at what expense? It’s a situation that I hope Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams doesn’t find himself in. At this point, it’s going to be a chess game to keep Nylander around long-term, as extending Matthews would and should be Treliving’s top priority here.