Tyler Bertuzzi's agent making no guarantees of a deal with Maple Leafs
Tyler Bertuzzi and the Maple Leafs had a mutual interest in inking a new deal this summer, but the latest comments from his agent, Todd Reynolds, are concerning.
Bertuzzi notched just 43 points for the Maple Leafs this season, well below what many feel were the expectations for the 29-year-old winger, especially due to the fact that he was a fixture in the top-six next to Auston Matthews and John Tavares during his first season as a Leaf.
Still, a second half surge by Bertuzzi provided a glimpse of the value he can bring to the team when he's on his game. Now that he has found his footing as a Leaf and carved out a role next to Auston Matthews and Max Domi on the team's top line, there appears to be a real possibility of that trio picking up where they left off next season. That is, of course, if Bertuzzi and the Leafs can strike a deal.
On Friday, it was revealed by TSN's Pierre LeBrun, via his article for the New York Times, that there's still a chance he'll go to market on July 1st, per his agent, Todd Reynolds.
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"It's early, but it's out there that the Leafs want to re-sign him. We'll see what happens here. He's been a top player on the last three teams he's played with. He's played on the first line with the best players on each of his last three teams. So he would be coveted on the open market. But whether he gets to market or not, time will tell."
-Reynolds on Bertuzzi
Obviously, this sounds more like posturing from his agent than anything else. Bertuzzi likely didn't provide the Leafs with their money's worth at $5.5M last season, largely due to a very slow start.
This really feels like Reynolds is trying to rule out any possibility of Bertuzzi taking less than the $5.5M he earned last year, leaning heavily on the fact that his client is a top line player who deserves to be making top line money.
To his credit, Bertuzzi was worth every penny in the second half of the season, though his performance in the playoffs left something to be desired. Time will tell, as Reynolds said, how this situation will unfold, but there does appear to be at least a possibility that Bertuzzi could go to market on July 1st if his camp doesn't feel like negotiations with the Leafs are going well.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL |
MAY 24 | 506 ANSWERS Tyler Bertuzzi's agent making no guarantees of a deal with Maple Leafs Do you think the Leafs should re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi this summer or let him walk as a UFA? |
| Let him walk. He wasn't worth $5.5M | 120 | 23.7 % |
| Sign him! Worth every penny. | 93 | 18.4 % |
| It really depends on what his actual ask is | 293 | 57.9 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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