3 former Toronto Maple Leafs we are glad are gone in 2024-25
T.J. Brodie
Finally, we have last season’s second-half breakout Leafs star in Tyler Bertuzzi.
After signing a one-year deal with Toronto during the 2023 offseason, he got off to a slow start and endured a miserable first half to the 2023-24 season. However, Bertuzzi became a revelation down the stretch when he was placed on the top line with Auston Matthews. In doing so, it revitalized his offensive prowess, as he registered 14 goals and 7 assists for 21 points in his final 26 games. With his strong finish, it ended up netting him a huge contract with the Blackhawks this past offseason as he signed a four-year deal worth $22 million. Certainly at that price, there was no way Toronto was going to retain him.
Often being caught out of position and missing his coverage at times, Brodie had one of his worst seasons in a while as he produced a CF% of just under 50%, an expected goals rate of 49.5% and a scoring chances rate of just 49% for 5-on-5 situations.
With his apparent regression, the Leafs chose not to extend the 15-year veteran as Brodie signed on with the Chicago Blackhawks during the offseason.
That decision by the Maple Leafs has turned out to be a wise move now as Brodie has continued his struggles into the 2024-25 NHL campaign. In 15 games this season with the Blackhawks, opponents have outscored them 9-3 whenever Brodie was on the ice in 5-on-5 situations. On top of that, Chicago has used him primarily on the bottom pairing while giving him just a little over 15 minutes of ice time on average, his lowest playing time ever in his career.
In addition, with a CF% of 45%, an expected goals rate of 47%, and a scoring chances rate of 46% in all 5-on-5 situations, his decline in play has resulted in mostly tilting the ice in the opponents’ favour whenever he took the ice.
Even more worrisome was the fact that his defensive partner was often seen needing to help him out when he struggled in puck battles. Perhaps Father Time has eventually caught up with Brodie, but for the Leafs sake, they sure chose the perfect time to let go the once-reliable defensive wizard in the league.