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NHL Rumors: Top insider Chris Johnston claims Maple Leafs' $5,500,000 star likely to test free agency market
The Maple Leafs could lose one of their key wingers this offseason depending on how contract talks play out. According to NHL insider Chris Johnston on Thursday's edition of The Chris Johnston show, left winger Tyler Bertuzzi could decide to test the free agency market rather than re-sign with the Maple Leafs this summer.
With Bertuzzi and center Max Domi both unrestricted free agents, the Leafs are on the hot seat. After they signed William Nylander and Auston Matthews to extensions, they still have a total of 12 players with expiring deals heading into free agency.
In the case of Bertuzzi, he has proven himself as a valuable asset—with 21 goals and 22 assists—helping fuel the team's offense, which ranked second in the NHL. While there have been questions about his durability in the past, Bertuzzi played in 80 of the Maple Leafs' 82 games this season which boosted his stock.
Looking at previous reports regarding the Maple Leafs extension talks with Tyler Bertuzzi
At the end of the season, reports indicated that Bertuzzi and the Maple Leafs seemed to have a mutual interest in figuring things out.
After a 21-game stint in Boston, Bertuzzi joined the Maple Leafs last summer on a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. The move was somewhat shocking given that the Leafs and Bruins have a bit of a rivalry, with the two meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year.
Speaking to the media following their Game 7 loss to Boston, Bertuzzi reflected on his time in Toronto:
"I really enjoyed myself this year. Coming into a new place, especially Toronto, it's not easy. It took me a little bit on the ice to get going. But off the ice, the guys were great. Everything was top-notch. Me and my family really enjoyed our time here."
With that in mind, Bertuzzi explained that he would be open to re-signing with the team. However, it appears that talks haven't yielded any significant progress since then.
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