“Have Started Contract Discussions” for the Leafs Using Upcoming Free Agent
Written by Antonio Losada
updated at 6:50 a.m. on June 2, 2024
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the process of extending the contract of Tyler Bertuzzi.
Getty
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the process of extending the contract of Tyler Bertuzzi.
Since there have been several stories on the same development occurring at the Toronto Maple Leafs headquarters, it is reasonable to believe that there is tension between the team and Tyler Bertuzzi. As they say, “where there is smoke, there is fire.”
In a post published on social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) on June 1, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period claims that the Leafs and the winger, who is a potential unrestricted free agency, “have started contract discussions.”
Though it’s still extremely early to predict where this will go, the #LeafsForever have begun contract talks with Tyler Bertuzzi, a pending UFA winger.
Though Pagnotta said that “it’s still very early in the process to project where this will go,” the #LeafsForever have begun contract talks with potential UFA winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
Bertuzzi finished the regular season with 21 goals and 43 points in 80 games while playing for Toronto. He then added 4 points in 7 postseason games.
Prior to the 2023–24 season, the Leafs inked Bertuzzi to a one-year “bridge” contract, according to CapFriendly. With a contract worth $5.5 million, Bertuzzi made the most money in a single season since joining the league on a three-year, $2.6 million entry-level deal in 2014–15.
Mutual Interest Between Max Domi, Bertuzzi, and the Maple Leafs Pignotta’s allegation is even more intriguing in light of Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic’s May 24 article that had similar details.
It’s reasonable to conclude that there must be some truth to the reports regarding Toronto and Bertuzzi trying to work out a contract extension, especially when two distinct insiders have reported hearing the same whispers.
There are rumblings about Lindholm, Domi, Guentzel, Kane, Stamkos, and more as the NHL free-agent market is about to heat up.
My most recent work for @TheAthletic ❵️
LeBrun: Initial rumors regarding the NHL free agency pool
via nytimes.com
“Mutual interest” in Bertuzzi rejoining the Leafs was reported by LeBrun, but he also stated, “The team is juggling a few things so it’s not clear if it gets done.”
LeBrun claims that Bertuzzi is more concerned with terms than anything else when it comes to his free agency in 2024. He would rather ink a multi-year contract than another one-year agreement.
“It goes without saying that getting term this time will be important for the 29-year-old Bertuzzi, coming off a one-year, $5.5 million deal,” LeBrun wrote.
CapFriendly estimates that the Leafs’ cap hit for the previous season was $97.6 million. The team is expected to have $18.5 million in cap space going into the offseason since 15 contracts worth a total of $38.5 million are set to expire this summer.
Leafs are considering David Perron of the Detroit Red Wings.
In addition to attempting to reach contract extensions with its pending free agents, the Maple Leafs are looking into possible acquisitions from outside the organization, such as winger David Perron of the Detroit Red Wings.
In a report released on May 25, Pagnotta claims that Perron is “one veteran forward the Maple Leafs may try to add.”
For background, Perron signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with Detroit at the end of the 2024 season. He will become a free agency on July 1st.
Have fun
But as long as the Wings want him back for another run, Perron hasn’t indicated that he’s actively looking to leave Detroit or that he’s signed a deal with another team.
“The supporters were amazing, the city overall, I believe my family and I truly enjoyed our time here,” Perron stated on April 18 during his final-season media conference. There’s no need to consider anything or anywhere else right now. I’m hoping it turns out well.
Perron just finished the 2023–24 regular season with 17 goals and 30 assists (47 points) in 76 games with the Red Wings.
The Leafs may decide to explore adding Perron instead of re-signing Bertuzzi, or vice versa, depending on the terms and cost. In 2024, Bertuzzi scored 2.0 points for every 60 minutes of ice time, as opposed to 2.4 for Perron in Detroit.
In its May 24 contract projections, DailyFaceoff awarded Perron a $6 million, two-year deal with an average salary of $3 million annually. The website projects that Bertuzzi will get a considerably larger contract, estimating that he would sign a $41 million, four-year contract with a $5.25 AAV.
