The Toronto Maple Leafs are linked to Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi.
Well, here we go again. It seems as though the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to Tyler Bertuzzi for about five years, but this year might be the year a trade comes to fruition.
The top of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is loaded with superior talent, but there is a significant dropoff from the first two lines to the third group. Up front, Toronto is led by their ‘big four.’ Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and captain John Tavares. Nylander and Marner currently share the team lead in points with 58. Matthews, who is expected to miss a couple of weeks due to injury, sits with 53 points, and Tavares isn’t far behind with 49. After that, the offensive numbers drop off substantially.
Michael Bunting is next with 33 points; then it’s Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Kerfoot sitting with 23 points apiece. With Matthews currently out of the Toronto lineup, it’s Kerfoot centering Nylander and Jarnkrok on the second line. Toronto’s current third line has combined for 35 points on the season.
If Toronto trades for Bertuzzi, he’d immediately give the Leafs a physical top-six winger with scoring upside. He’d be a perfect rental that would remind Leafs fans of Zach Hyman. Hyman excelled in Toronto’s top six, and Bertuzzi can skate on the first line with Marner and Matthews, allowing Bunting to slide down to the second group with Nylander and Tavares.
Adding Bertuzzi will help Toronto finally get out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoff. If healthy can provide a physical presence, Toronto will require to get past Boston or Tampa Bay in a potential seven-game series.