Rolling the roster dice
Leafs front office takes a calculated risk by waiving Spezza and Dell
It was anything but a quiet first Sunday of the NHL season for the Maple Leafs.
While players were given the day off after a 3-2 win in Ottawa on Saturday night, general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff faced a tricky salary-cap situation while trying to fill out the roster following a knee injury to rookie forward Nick Robertson. Here’s what you need to know:
Forward Jason Spezza and No. 3 goalie Aaron Dell were placed on waivers at noon Sunday, moves which raised eyebrows — especially Spezza, the veteran who appeared impervious to the waiver wire. His agent, Rick Curran, told the Star on Sunday that Spezza would “just retire” if he is claimed by another club, a statement that should help him remain a Leaf. But Dell? The NHL saw four goalies claimed in the last week. Every team must carry three between the roster and taxi squad. The waiver period ends Monday at noon.
The problem for the Leafs is how to replace Robertson, and they will be cautious not to err in using the long-term injured reserve for the rookie, who earns $821,000 (U.S.).
While the prognosis for his recovery won’t be made public until Monday, the Leafs would lose him for 10 games or 24 days if they put him on the long-term list.
In the meantime, they can’t use the roster emergency exemption unless they play a game down one skater. By putting Spezza ($700,000) and Dell ($800,000) on waivers, the Leafs gain roster flexibility. If they go unclaimed, they can be sent to the taxi squad for 10 games or 30 days. If they go with 11 forwards Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the emergency exemption could be applied for Wednesday’s date with Edmonton.
Also, replacing Spezza and Dell with more expensive options would mean the Leafs could maximize their cap relief if Robertson ends up out long term. Options on the taxi squad include forwards Travis Boyd ($700,000), Adam Brooks ($725,000), Pierre Engvall ($1.25 million) and Alex Barabanov ($925,000) plus defenceman Mikko Lehtonen ($925,000). s
There is an obvious risk in placing serviceable assets on waivers. But goalie Craig Anderson cleared waivers shortly after signing with Washington last week, and Corey Perry went unclaimed before joining Montreal’s taxi squad.
The thinking with Spezza seems to be that he’d drop to the taxi squad for a couple of games if unclaimed, then return when the cap situation is cleaned up. It’s a tricky situation that many NHL teams face, and will continue to throughout the 56game season.
Dell was waived after serving as the backup in Saturday’s win in Ottawa. Jack Campbell started, while No. 1 Frederik Andersen got the day off after allowing nine goals in the Leafs’ first two games. Campbell might get the call against the Jets as well — win and you’re in — but keeping three goalies on the active roster isn’t an option after Robertson’s injury. If Dell is still a Leaf after noon Monday, he would move to the taxi squad.
After calling off Saturday’s workout because of possible exposure to COVID-19, the Jets practised Sunday and made the flight to Toronto. Jets coach Paul Maurice said forward Nik Ehlers, who didn’t practise either day because of COVID concerns, travelled with the team, but defenceman Tucker Poolman did not. Star forward Patrik Laine, drafted second behind Auston Matthews in 2016 and the subject of trade speculation, left practice early for an undisclosed reason. His status was uncertain. Blueliner Dylan DeMelo stayed home with his wife and newborn baby.