David Pagnotta has reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs have started contract discussions with unrestricted, free-agent left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
General Manager Brad Treliving opening the Leafs offseason with a focus on Bertuzzi supports new coach Craig Berube's "North" and "heavy" objectives.
Should the Leafs and Bertuzzi reach an agreement, the effects will be felt throughout the roster.
A signing would provide further depth to the team's forward units, but reduce the salary cap space needed to help with the more significant weaknesses in goal and on defense.
The Toronto Leafs Would Have a Formidable Group of Left-Wingers
A Bertuzzi deal would add further depth to the Leafs forward units, especially at left wing. Bertuzzi would return to join Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, and Nick Robertson.
Bertuzzi, Knies, and McMann are all 6' 2" (or over) and 200-plus pounds. All are capable of playing a heavy, competitive game that Berube covets. It's not unreasonable to expect twenty goals from each of them.
Knies continues to ascend to a potentially high ceiling and has been a Toronto player that excels in the playoffs. Bertuzzi has also performed well over the past two postseasons. McMann was unavailable for playoff duty this year but blossomed and showed steady improvement throughout the regular season.
That trio would give the Maple Leafs an above-average group of left-wingers, but push Nick Robertson into a fourth-line role.
Considering that Robertson scored at a rate about equal to 40 goal scorer William Nylander last season, and that he can be re-signed cheaply, the Leafs should probably consider addressing other spots on their roster.
Signing Bertuzzi Limits Other Areas of the Roster
Robertson is ill-suited to a fourth-line role - if he's going to be successrful in the NHL, it's going to be as a scoring forward higher in the lineup.
Another season of limited minutes on the fourth line further hinders his development and seems wastful.
Signing Bertuzzi to anything comparable to his recent contracts that averaged around a $5 million AAV, limits the Leafs ability to address other areas of the roster. The team has more pressing needs in goal and on defense.
The Maple Leafs have major questions in the net behind Joseph Woll. Woll's injury history makes it critical to have two capable backups, and the free-agent options are limited.
The Leafs defense needs at least two additions and while a UFA goalie can be found for less money, helping the blue line through free agency will be costly. The available players are of higher quality and the Leafs will face much competition for their services.
A final deterrent to signing Bertuzzi is positional importance. Defense, goaltending, and strength at center are all more important to success than being strong on the wings.
Judgment on the Toronto Maple Leafs offseason must be reserved until a later date when all of their moves are completed, but the singular signing of Bertuzzi is an unnecessary, risky proposition with more critical areas that need to be addressed.