Another Maple Leafs trade target could be coming off the market according to a recent report
Tyler Bertuzzi has been on the trading block sporadically over the last few seasons and he might just be back on it ahead of the trade deadline. The Detroit Red Wings have a lot to think about in terms of restricted and unrestricted free agents as the big fish right now is captain Dylan Larkin. Bertuzzi has insisted that he wants to remain a Red Wing, both camps would like a deal hammered down, but it would have to work for both sides.
Bertuzzi is in the final year of a 2 year/9.5 million dollar contract. The issue is that the Wings also have Larkin, Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist, Adam Erne, Joseph Veleno, Olli Maata, Jordan Oesterle, Jake Walman, Gustav Lindstrom, and Alex Nedeljkovic coming to the end of their respective deals as well.
They are projected to carry over $41 million in cap space heading into the summer so it's not like they're going to have to penny pinch but it's something to think about with Steve Yzerman at the helm.
According to a source close to the team and the situation, Yzerman will be in contact with the agents' of both Larkin and Bertuzzi "no later than after the All-Star break". Bertuzzi wants to stick around long term but it all boils down to the term and the money being offered.
If things can't materialize ahead of the trade deadline, look for the Detroit Red Wings to make him available and seek out a trade to recoup assets. He will quickly become a hot commodity, several teams have already been linked to the forward in the past including the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his low cap hit makes him that much more tradable.
He scored 30 goals and 62 points last year, has 85 goals and 192 points in 286 games across 7 seasons, and has hit the 20 goal plateau 3 times in his last 3 seasons where he's played over 60 games. He will add snarl, grit, bite, and goals to any contending team if Yzerman and company can't come to a contractual agreement.
| POLL | ||
12 JANVIER | 17 ANSWERS Another Maple Leafs trade target could be coming off the market according to a recent report Will Bertuzzi end up staying in Detroit? | ||
| Yes | 7 | 41.2 % |
| No | 10 | 58.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
