Today we shall provide some of the latest updates involving pending Toronto Maple Leafs free agents. One thing is for sure that the Leafs roster could look very different than it did to finish the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs and General Manager Brad Treliving have a number of free agents to deal with this offseason. Impactful players like Max Domi, Mark Giordano, and Ilya Samsonov are two players that Treliving will need to make hard decisions on, and soon. Furthermore, in today’s discussion, we will chat about three unrestricted free agents specifically, Tyler Bertuzzi, Joel Edmundson, and Ilya Lyubushkin.
First up for Maple Leafs Free Agents Is Tyler Bertuzzi
To start with, we can touch quickly on Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi is a difficult player to quantify his value. For the regular season, you don’t know if you are getting the eight-goal 2022-23 Bertuzzi, or the 2021-22 30-goal Bertuzzi. More likely, you can expect someone around his career 0.64 PPG. However, where Bertuzzi really shines is one key intangible. The ultimate playoff warrior. Just take a look at those chicklets. The dude was made for the playoffs. Through his eight-year, NHL career thus far, he’s only made two post-season appearances. In those two trips, in 14 games, he has 14 points, 40 hits, and 32 PIMs. According to Pagnotta, negotiations started last week, and there’s mutual interest from both parties. Will Treliving be able to navigate the Leafs cap crunch, or will the playoff beast emerge with another contender come July 1st?
NHL Rumours: Maple Leafs In Contract Talks With Pending UFA Winger
Joel Edmundson Has Earned a Pay Raise, Rightfully So
Let’s follow up one playoff performer with another, Joel Edmundson. Outside of the top three or four, the Leafs defence should expect a shakeup for 2024-25. The Leafs management have expressed interest in retaining the veteran defender, and why wouldn’t they. Edmundson has a ton of playoff experience, and is a frustrating menace to play against. Moreover, he has 82 career playoff games under his belt, and the 2019 Stanley Cup championship on his mantle. Make no mistake, the 30-year-old knows his value, and wants to test free agency. With his age and experience, combined with the salary cap limitations, it is tough to see the Leafs being able to afford Edmundson.
A Smaller but Not Inconsequential Piece of the Leafs Free Agents
One final underrated piece of the Leafs 2024 blueline, was a second-time, Leaf trade deadline acquisition, Ilya Lyubushkin. Lyubushkin is very much an underrated player, and it would make sense that the Leafs management haven’t started negotiations given the lack of understanding of his true value. He is physical and has size at 6’2″. In addition, through his career, he has 353 NHL games played, and scored 47 points in 15:48 of average ice time. Granted, his value can be hard to see. Conversely, when paired with Leafs defensive ace, Morgan Rielly, the chemistry is undeniable. Moneypuck has the pair at an xGoals% of 54.2 with a significant sample size of 160 minutes. Perhaps there is hesitation on Treliving’s part if they can lure a bigger fish to Maple Leaf pond on the starboard side of Rielly’s boat. Conversely, it might be a spot to save money, decisions, decisions.
Main photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY
