bustaheims
Active member
Nik the Trik said:I'm pretty sure a team can only retain salary on two players and the Leafs are already doing so on Kessel.
Likewise, something to keep in mind is that if the Leafs plan on protecting 4 defensemen(which in that scenario would be Gardiner, Reilly, Zaitsev and Manson) they'll need to expose either Bozak or Komarov in the expansion draft(assuming JVR, Kadri and Kane are guys you'd then protect).
Personally, I don't think the potential benefits of Kane living up to his "potential" come anywhere close to the the downsides of having him around a young/developing club. Especially not if the trade for him involves some of the team's better prospects and depth players.
In addition, Leipsic would have to be protected in the expansion draft, and is not waiver exempt next season.