Some tough choices are looming in the big smoke. The Leafs have done well to build a consistent contender year in and year out but a day of reckoning is coming in 2 years and the Leafs are struggling with the choices.

All three of Landeskog, Crosby and Couturier are going to become UFA in the summer of 2022. That means the Leafs will only be able to retain one of those three. Landeskog is the most obvious since he was drafted by the Leafs, is the current captain of the Leafs and is a personal favorite of the general manager.

Gabriel Landeskog (@GabeLandeskog92) | Twitter
Landy has been with the Leafs so long the players calls him ‘Daddy’.

Crosby is next being one of the best sim players in the history of sim hockey. He is rated fantastic year in, year out and is one of those rare offensive talents most teams covet. He was received with much fan fair in the off season and depending on how big his impact is for this team over the next two seasons, he might supplant Landy as the number one keeper.

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Couturier is seen as a white whale for this organization. A rare combination of skill and defense. A selke winner who can push a sim team over the finish line in a tight season and playoff series. Indeed, his prowess and impact was on full display since rejoining the Leafs who regretted trading him to the Ducks. Couturier is a long shot to earn the loyalty tag but his loss will indeed be felt.

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No teeth, no problem for Couturier.

This could all be moot if the Leafs go into rebuild mode which is the general managers preference, but that pesky playoff streak has kept us pushing to win. That is getting harder and harder to do with the burgeoning talent in the Eastern Conference.

Question to my SHL peeps, who would you keep?