Toronto Maple Leafs cap issues have them poised to lose another top 6 forward

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Joshua Deeds
August 30, 2022 (9:30)

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Kyle Dubas has put the Toronto Maple Leafs in a bind, by signing their top centre and wingers to expensive contracts.

After sinking $40.5 Million into Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander things get tight, this is not counting Morgan Reilly either.

During free agency, Dubas scooped up discount depth, and one of these depth pieces including Stanely cup-winning Nicolas Aube-Kubel, at a discount of $1 million for a year term.

Michael Bunting is also seemingly due for a raise after next season, with his career year of 63 points in 2021-2022.

The communication I had with Kyle [Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas] and Sheldon [Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe] and the opportunity that I had to come home and play for my team and compete for a Stanley Cup was worth the pay cut in mind,» Bunting said. «I definitely do not regret my decision and I'm looking forward to getting it going.

Bunting spent most of his season, until his injury on the first line with Matthews. During that period, Matthews was far more dangerous with Bunting on the ice, than without generating (64.7 HDCF%).

The Leafs have a tough decision but can find the cash to retain Bunting with a raise, at this point you wonder how strong the SOO Greyhounds connection is, this late in the in the off-season with Bunting able to sign an extension before his contract expires.

POLL
Will the Maple Leafs be able to retain Michael Bunting?
No, they won't be able to afford him	56	26.9 %
Yes, they'll find a way	110	52.9 %
Only if they move one of the Core 4	42	20.2 %
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