New faces at Leafs practice hint of cap moves to come

Teemu Kivihalme & Joseph Duszak have been recalled from the Marlies … Will be at Leafs practice @TSN_Edge

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 21, 2022

What is this about? Well, the most likely reason is salary cap shenanigans. Kivihalme and Duszak make $725,000 and $750,000 respectively, and those salaries might be necessary to get the Leafs in the correct cap position.

For what you ask? Good question. Here’s the only hint we’ve had so far:

Lots of moving parts for TOR today in terms of ability/desire to make more moves by deadline.The health of Ondrej Kase for one. If he’s out for prolonged period, there may be a need to fill a hole and potential LTIR space. He was hit in the head Saturday.

— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 21, 2022

Health of roster today, waiver outcomes and LTIR potential may dictate quantity and quality of moves TOR makes or doesn’t make. Absent LTIR potential, it’s dollar in-dollar out for the Leafs.

— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 21, 2022

We’ll update you when we know more.

Kivihalme wearing 55 for #Leafs. pic.twitter.com/6pWju0a3GQ

— David Alter (@dalter) March 21, 2022

No one tell Gio.

More:

Rasmus Sandin may have been hurt the other night https://t.co/P5F6WptxBZ

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 21, 2022

No Rasmus Sandin on the ice for TOR practice today. If it’s a longer term injury, he would be a candidate for LTIR and, if so, would give TOR a little more cap flexibility today.

— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 21, 2022

I think the if is superfluous there.

Kase is undergoing testing after being hit in the head on Saturday night. Kase, of course, has significant concussion history. If both Kase and Sandin are out for significant time, roster spots and LTIR space potentially open up.

— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 21, 2022