Here’s another edition of NHL Rumours! The Toronto Maple Leafs have some contracts to hand out as they reflect on their roster this offseason. It seems that the Maple Leafs have begun contract talks in terms of signing pending free agents.
NHL Rumours
Rumour: David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period has reported that the Maple Leafs have opened contract discussions with Tyler Bertuzzi. The gritty winger, among others, is a pending UFA and the Leafs are looking to act on that and extend him.
It’s still very early in the process to project where this will go, but the #LeafsForever have started contract discussions with pending UFA winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 1, 2024
The 29-year-old was signed last offseason to a one-year deal and it seems like general manager, Brad Treliving wants to keep him around. Despite a slow start to this past season, Bertuzzi picked up the pace in the back half of the season. He finished the 2023-24 regular season with 21 goals and 43 points in 80 games. In the playoffs, he put up four points in a series that went the distance against his former team, the Boston Bruins.
Bertuzzi’s previous cap hit from this past season was worth $5.5 million. It’s unclear what he’ll make on his new deal, but typically with players of Bertuzzi’s age usually get a raise, especially in the open market. However, with Toronto right up against the cap, it’s going to be tough to sign Bertuzzi to anything north of $6 million AAV. Although, if the Maple Leafs contract talks become a reality there might be a chance to sign the native of Sudbury, Ont. within the $5 million to $6 million range.
Looking To Continue Where He Left Off
Throughout this past season, Bertuzzi saw several different line combinations and situations. He saw ice time on both power play units, typically as a net-front presence and a handful of different line-mates. He’s been alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and more recently sharing the top line with Max Domi and Mitch Marner. Matthews was absent for a couple of games due to sickness/injury, which forced ex-coach Sheldon Keefe to juggle the lines a bit. Bertuzzi showed great promise on that line with Domi and Marner.
Unfortunately for him, there’s no guarantee that those two will be back next season. Domi is a pending UFA just like Bertuzzi, and if Treliving re-signs Bertuzzi it will be even more challenging to keep Marner or to sign him to a new contract. However, only time will tell if Bertuzzi will get extended and if he does, look out for an improvement. He is a hard-nosed player that any team would love to have and fits the playoff-style hockey that the Leafs will see next season. The Maple Leafs contract saga should get interesting over the next few weeks or so.
Main Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
