The Toronto Maple Leafs are obviously going to be making some changes this off-season.
The combination of the Toronto Maple Leafs losing (again) in the first round, the expansion draft, and a number of core members of the team either at or near the end of their contracts is likely to cause a lot of roster turnover this summer.
Free Agency is always fun, but the Leafs aren’t likely to be signing potentially available big names like Dougie Hamilton or Alex Ovechkin.
So that leaves trades, and while there’s been a few interesting rumours so far, the first real big trade rumour of the summer is upon us, and it’s a doozy. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs may be looking into a Tyler Bertuzzi trade.
Toronto Maple Leafs and a Tyler Bertuzzi Trade
Bertuzzi is 26 and is an obvious player for the Leafs to pursue.
The Leafs have repeatedly tried to be a tougher team, but other than Jake Muzzin, they have failed to add a significant tough presence to the top of their lineup where it really makes a difference.
I don’t watch a ton of Detroit Red Wings games, and so I haven’t seen a lot of Bertuzzi, but I think he’s a bit tougher and meaner than Zach Hyman is. Going by his reputation, at least, he is a tougher, yappier, perhaps more antagonizing presence than Hyman is.
Reputational Caveat: Hyman is about the same size and has a higher career high in penalty minutes. Bertuzzi has been in three NHL fights, Hyman in four.
But Hyman isn’t coming back, and the Leafs will need to replace him. Bertuzzi appears to be a great option in this regard. He is three years young, and has the same career high in goals (21) as Hyman does, while achieving a slightly higher career high in points.
Bertuzzi is a really solid 5v5 player who has put up solid number for the last few years skating mostly with Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. His numbers drop away from those players, but he’d be acquired to ride shot-gun with the Leafs best players, so that probably isn’t a concern.
If you can put up positive numbers on the worst team in the league, you should be able to succeed on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Bertuzzi currently makes $3.5 million and would require at least a small raise, at least on a short-term deal. I am pretty sure that if he isn’t offered at least a minimum raise he will become a UFA. He is coming off a back injury where he only played nine games and had to have surgery, so I’m not sure what the risk would be, but it’s at least possible that that risk translates into a cheaper contract than he otherwise would be willing to sign, and a cheaper acquisition cost.
I’d like it very much if the Leafs could bring in Tyler Bertuzzi, but only if the cost to bring him here makes sense. He likely isn’t as good as Hyman overall, but perhaps he is a better goal scorer and a bit meaner.
He also has some upside too, and maybe he could score 30 garbage goals riding shotgun with the Leafs two best players. If you can replace Hyman with someone who isn’t too expensive and has upside, you’ve succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations.
With the stipulation that the cost must be reasonable (I.E it can’t include Sandin, Robertson, or any high picks) then I am all for it.