The Toronto Maple Leafs will need to find a replacement for pending free agency forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who has reportedly agreed to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks.
According to former NHL and Maple Leafs player Jay Rosehill, Bertuzzi will sign his contract when free agency begins on July 1 at 12 p.m. ET.
On July 1, Rosehill tweeted on X that Tyler Bertuzzi would sign with Chicago tomorrow at Noon ET.
Former Sportsnet broadcaster and current Leafs Morning Take director Nick Alberga corroborated the news, stating that Bertuzzi’s contract with the Blackhawks is anticipated to last four years.
“Sounds like a four-year deal #Blackhawks,” Alberga tweeted on July 1, before the start of free agency.
Bertuzzi signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million with the Maple Leafs on July 2, 2023. At the end of the season, there was mutual interest in a contract extension, but the forward performed well enough to price himself out of Toronto.
The Maple Leafs forward will leave Canada with 80 regular-season games under his belt. He had 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in Toronto, and he added 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in 7 postseason games.
Tyler Bertuzzi priced himself out of the Maple Leafs’ reach.
Late on June 30, one day before the free-agent market opened, TSN’s Darren Dreger revealed that Bertuzzi would not be re-signing with the Maple Leafs after one season.
“Tyler Bertuzzi will not be returning to the Maple Leafs.” His value has surpassed Toronto’s. He will land a deal elsewhere in the four-year period for more than $5 million per territory,” Dreger claimed.
Dreger’s story, which came hours before the two stating that the Blackhawks had won the Bertuzzi sweepstakes, is consistent with the most recent information regarding the contract’s details.
After playing a bridge season in Toronto during the 2023-24 season, Bertuzzi was finally signed to a four-year contract.
Maple Leafs and Bertuzzi: Mutual Interest, But Impossible Reunion
Bertuzzi and the Leafs had a mutual interest in continuing their cooperation. Bertuzzi acknowledged it during his post-season interview in May.
“That’s definitely something I’m open to,” Bertuzzi told David Alter of The Hockey News on May 7. “I had a lot of fun this year. It is difficult to adjust to a new environment, particularly in Toronto. It took me a little while on the ice to start moving. But off the ice, the boys were fantastic. Everything was top notch. My family and I absolutely loved our visit here.”
The Maple Leafs faced a difficult decision in selecting one of their two pending free agents at the position. On June 30, the franchise decided to re-sign Max Domi, handing him a four-year contract.
With Bertuzzi gone and Domi and fellow Leaf Timothy Liljegren back on the roster, Toronto will have $12 million in cap space on July 1.
Toronto has eleven forwards under contract. They also have six defenseman on the active roster and plan to add a seventh after signing Chris Tanev.
Finally, the Maple Leafs will need to sign a goalie because Toronto only has Joseph Woll under contract for next season, while Martin Jones and Ilya Samsonov will become unrestricted free agents.
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