One of the biggest UFAs available in NHL free agency this summer is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi. Which team will get him?
Here’s this writer’s opinion of the three most likely destinations for Bertuzzi.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs still have some salary cap stress to address, but if they really wanted to keep Bertuzzi, they could – so long as his annual cap hit is around $5 million to $6 million on a three-year deal.
Bertuzzi was treated very well in Toronto, and that goes a long way toward him considering returning. The 29-year-old thrived in the second half of this season with 15 goals and 23 points in the final 34 games. If he does re-sign, he would still be a top-six fixture with the Maple Leafs.
We’d put the chances at 60/40 (returning/not returning) that Bertuzzi is a Leaf again. It’s often that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t in hockey free-agent decisions, and while the Leafs disappointed again last season, Bertuzzi looked strong and willing to pay a physical price in and around an opponent’s net. The Leafs should be striving to bring him back.
2. Detroit Red Wings
Bertuzzi’s greasy game is exactly what the Red Wings need more of. And, of course, his seven years with the Wings were very good to him.
Detroit has about $29.3 million in cap space, and with the Wings trying desperately to get back into the Stanley Cup playoff picture, Bertuzzi’s willingness to bounce around in high-impact areas should be highly appealing.
Bertuzzi has got a good few years ahead of him as an above-average NHLer, so GMs should be fully aware they’d have to put forth a lucrative offer to Bertuzzi.
But Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has shown he’s willing to spend money, and Bertuzzi could choose to go with the familiar and pull on a Red Wings jersey once again now that they’re closer to playoff contention.
3. Nashville Predators
The Predators weren’t suffering from a lack of offense last season, but Bertuzzi would be a major improvement on what Nashville has in their top six forwards group.
The Preds have $26.3 million in cap space, and Bertuzzi would give them more experience and a greater degree of general toughness to play against.
Bertuzzi would get a break from the crushing Toronto media by joining Nashville, and he’d also get a decent chance at a lengthy playoff run next spring and beyond.
Predators GM Barry Trotz is an actively interested individual who knows the NHL as well as anyone, so he should be in touch with Bertuzzi’s agent to see what it would take to bring him to Nashville.
If it all comes down to money, the Predators can match just about any offer Bertuzzi gets, and the opportunity to join the veteran-laden Preds could be too sweet for him to pass on.
