Re-Sign, Reunite or Relocate? Three Potential Destinations for Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi
Tyler Bertuzzi entered NHL free agency last season and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. Adam Proteau examines whether he’ll stay there or consider two other destinations.
One of the biggest UFAs available in NHL free agency this summer is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi. Which team will get him?
Here’s this writer’s opinion of the three most likely destinations for Bertuzzi.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs still have some salary cap stress to address, but if they really wanted to keep Bertuzzi, they could – so long as his annual cap hit is around $5 million to $6 million on a three-year deal.
Bertuzzi was treated very well in Toronto, and that goes a long way toward him considering returning. The 29-year-old thrived in the second half of this season with 15 goals and 23 points in the final 34 games. If he does re-sign, he would still be a top-six fixture with the Maple Leafs.
We’d put the chances at 60/40 (returning/not returning) that Bertuzzi is a Leaf again. It’s often that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t in hockey free-agent decisions, and while the Leafs disappointed again last season, Bertuzzi looked strong and willing to pay a physical price in and around an opponent’s net. The Leafs should be striving to bring him back.
2. Detroit Red Wings
Bertuzzi’s greasy game is exactly what the Red Wings need more of. And, of course, his seven years with the Wings were very good to him.