Maple Leafs Add More Grit Signing Tyler Bertuzzi

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to reshape their team this offseason. First, the Maple Leafs signed Ryan Reaves to a three-year contract that carries a cap hit of $1.35 million a season. Then general manager Brad Treliving signed defenceman John Klingberg to one year deal worth $4.15 million. Now the dynamic continues to change with the signing of Tyler Bertuzzi.

🖊 We’ve signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a one-year contract pic.twitter.com/T8PLhhOqRP

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— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 2, 2023

The Maple Leafs were in the running for Bertuzzi as he went to market on July 1st. The third-ranked player on Full Press Hockey’s Top 10 Free Agent Board is heading to Toronto. There were several suitors after the forward told the Boston Bruins he was not going to re-sign in Boston. Now he signs a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. The contract carries a full no-movement clause as Bertuzzi will hit the market again next year when it is expected the salary cap goes up.

Tyler Bertuzzi's #leafs contract features a no-movement clause and the maximum signing bonus.

Plus he's eligible to hit the UFA market again next summer when the salary cap takes a big jump. https://t.co/7D9dFFMFEC

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 2, 2023

Bertuzzi is betting on himself this season as he hopes to hit it big next year.

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There is definitely a culture shift happening in Toronto. Each year the Maple Leafs say they want to be tougher to play against, but now they have the vocal leaders on the bench. Bertuzzi has shown what he can do in the playoffs. In his first taste of playoff action, Bertuzzi recorded 10 points (five goals and five assists) in seven games with the Bruins.

Last season splitting time between the Bruins and Detroit Red Wings he recorded 30 points (eight goals and 22 assists) in 40 games. Again Bertuzzi has a history of injuries so this is a risk. But a well-calculated risk because of what he can bring on the ice. Tyler Bertuzzi can offset a player like Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers. He has the grit of a fourth liner with the skill of a first or second liner. Exactly the type of player the Maple Leafs needed.

All eyes were on the Maple Leafs this offseason as to what they would do. The Reaves contract is interesting considering every multi-year deal he got with a team he never finished the contract he signed the team with. Klingberg’s AAV might be a little high but again having a puck-moving defenceman on the backend will help the Maple Leafs transition game.

As Puck Pedia notes the Maple Leafs are over the salary cap by $5 million. Teams can be 10 percent over the cap in the summer. Toronto is still sniffing around on Max Domi. How that fits only Treliving knows. Not to mention the Maple Leafs still have to re-sign Samsonov as well. And what about Matt Murray? Does the team buy him out later on or find a way to put him on Robidas Island to open up more cap space?

And of course the extension for Auston Matthews, which will kick in next year. Matthews is looking to max out two more times. He is looking for a three to five-year deal and will be the highest-paid player in the league.

And where does William Nylander fit into the equation? There is still more work for Treliving to do, but the Maple Leafs sign a really good hard-nosed player in Tyler Bertuzzi on Day 2 of NHL Free Agency.

UPDATE: The Maple Leafs signed Domi to a one-year contract worth $3 million. Again the Maple Leafs continue to change the culture inside the locker room and on the bench. Domi is another playoff performer with 13 points (three goals and 10 assists) in 19 games with the Stars. Fans can’t expect what his father Tie Domi did for the Maple Leafs as Max is a different player, but the Maple Leafs are going to be tougher to play against.