Based on the current odds, it suddenly seems <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Toronto Maple Leafs</a>' chances of winning the Stanley Cup took quite a tumble, and there's a reason for it. The Toronto Maple Leafs have enough troubles in the grueling NHL division they're in <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944_Stanley_Cup_Finals' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>and a six-decade championship drought</a> without yet another challenge. Two rival teams just received two huge advantages that could make their path even more complicated than ever. The NHL's salary cap heavily influences team success, rewarding those who manage it wisely. Poor cap management can sink teams, so it's frustrating when struggling franchises help rivals solve their problems. That is exactly what happened when the <a href='https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-acquire-defenseman-jacob-trouba-from-new-york-rangers' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Anaheim Ducks</a> helped the New York Rangers get some cap relief by taking on <a href='https://www.nhl.com/ducks/player/jacob-trouba-8476885' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Jacob Trouba</a> and his fat $8 million annual contract. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLTradeAlert/status/1865426041252327655'> </a></blockquote></div> It was a deal that really clogged up the books for the Rangers, but <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/new-york-rangers/the-new-york-rangers-have-just-traded-their-captain-jacob-trouba' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>now they have space to really add top talent</a> before the trade deadline. With a roster already housing superstars like Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers are in an even stronger position than ever. The Dallas Stars got in the mix of things too: With Tyler Seguin and his $9-million cap hit on LTIR, the door's now open for Dallas to reinvest into some short-term upgrades. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1864326471826936179'> </a></blockquote></div> They will be able to build a better roster through the course of the season, maybe even add in some impactful players before <a href='https://www.nhl.com/stars/player/tyler-seguin-8475794' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Tyler Seguin</a> most likely returns for the playoffs, where cap limits no longer apply. Bad news for the Leafs: With these moves, the Rangers and Stars, already strong contenders, could get away in the distance further. While the Leafs are still viable contenders, their path to the Stanley Cup has become considerably steeper with these developments. Toronto will need to be strategic with how they manage the salary cap for the remainder of the year if they want to remain at the top of the odds list.