3 Players Toronto Maple Leafs Should Not Re-Sign in Free Agency

No. 2: Tyler Bertuzzi

Bertuzzi had a terrible start, but finished the year with 21 goals and 43 points, earning his $5.5M contract.

That amount was probably an overpayment, especially since Zach Hyman scored 53 goals this year, earning the same contract, but Bertuzzi was fine.

Unfortunately, fine just doesn't cut it and the team cannot afford to re-sign him.

$5.5M is a lot of money for a winger who was bad for 40 games and didn't live up to playoff expectations.

Similar to Domi, Bertuzzi was expected to earn his contract in the playoffs, but only finished with one goal and four points in seven games. ( all stats naturalstattrick.com).

After scoring five goals and 10 points in the 2023 playoffs with the Bruins, many expected a similar result from Bertuzzi this year, but that never happened and it cost the Leafs the series.

Similar to Domi, I do like a lot of what Bertuzzi brings, but at $5.5M, you can't bring him back.

If you were to bring Bertuzzi back, you would just be saying to the fans that everything is fine and that they just need another crack at it, and history will change.