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Toronto Maple Leafs Rumour Round Up: Kuemper, Landeskog and More

By Jeremy Ridgewell

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 22: Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Gila River Arena on January 22, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Golden Knights 5-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 22: Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Gila River Arena on January 22, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Golden Knights 5-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

During an episode of Lead Off on Sportsnet The Fan 590, hockey insider Elliotte Friedman stated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been interested in adding a player like Tyler Bertuzzi for a while, and that he’s the type of player that makes the most sense to replace Zach Hyman.

Bertuzzi is not as big of a fish as Landeskog is, but if Kyle Dubas fails to sign Landeskog, trading for Bertuzzi could be a decent second choice. Bertuzzi only played in nine games last season due to injury.

That injury could work out for the Toronto Maple Leafs in two ways. The first way it helps them is that Detroit’s asking price will not be as high as if Bertuzzi had played most of the season. The second way it helps is that Bertuzzi is a restricted free agent, and Toronto can sign him for close to what he is making now ($3.5 million).

Dubas acquiring Bertuzzi could be a low-cost/high reward type of trade. Bertuzzi can produce 20+ goals and 45+ points a season while playing a similar role that Hyman did. The young forward is a pain in the ass to play against, and that is something the Toronto roster needs.

With Bertuzzi in the lineup, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe will have a feisty, hard-working, left-winger who can put the puck in the net. That sounds like a Hyman replacement to me, and if Dubas can sign him for $4.5 million or less, that is a big win for Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

If Bertuzzi comes to Toronto and is allowed to play with Matthews and Marner, he could become a regular 25 goal scorer who puts up 50+ points a season. That would be an upgrade over Hyman and at a lower cost than Hyman. Hyman is reportedly seeking between $5million – $6 million in free agency.

If Toronto loses out on Landeskog, but is able to acquire Bertuzzi, then they might be able to land a different big fish from the free agency pond.

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