The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to change their DNA, and one trade idea has them re-acquiring a gritty forward.
The website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool lets users create their own trades. One user proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs re-acquire Tyler Bertuzzi from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Maple Leafs acquire:
- Tyler Bertuzzi ($1 million retained)
Blackhawks acquire:
- David Kampf
- 2025 fifth-round pick
The proposed deal does seem a bit light for Chicago, but the Blackhawks get off of Bertuzzi’s deal, as he didn’t fit in as many had thought.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Bertuzzi, who played for Toronto in the 2023-24 season and had a lot of success with Auston Matthews. With Mitch Marner likely to leave in free agency, Bertuzzi could help replace the void, while also adding some grittiness and physicality to their lineup. Bertuzzi is entering the second year of his four-year, $22 million deal. He recorded 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points in 82 games.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up a fifth-round pick in Kampf. Kampf played for Chicago from 2017 until 2021, as he left and signed with Toronto in free agency. He’s in the third year of his four-year, $9.6 million deal and would be a good fourth-line center for Chicago. He recorded 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points in 59 games.
Maple Leafs Tried to Re-Sign Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi played one season for Toronto and was a fan favorite, and had a ton of success.
Originally, Bertuzzi was reluctant to sign with Toronto, but he ended up enjoying his time with the Maple Leafs. After his successful year in Toronto, he and the Maple Leafs were trying to get something done.
“We’ve had productive talks,” Todd Reynolds, the agent for Bertuzzi, said to the Toronto Sun last summer. “But the player realizes that there are other areas for the team to address. We’ll see where it goes.”
Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving, meanwhile, said he was interested in re-signing Bertuzzi.
“But it’s got to work for them and it’s got to work for us,” Treliving said of Bertuzzi and Domi. “We’ve got, certainly, some issues that we have to address on the roster. There’s a pie and there’s only so much to go around. We’ve got a few guys who are up. And part of this is getting better, too. It’s not just being the same. You’re trying to get better in the process, as well. So we’ll see.”
Despite the mutual interest, Bertuzzi signed with the Blackhawks. But, perhaps Toronto looks to re-acquire him to replace Marner.
Maple Leafs GM Could Make Major Changes
Toronto was eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and after the exit, Treliving hinted at some major changes.
At his year-end press conference, Treliving said the Maple Leafs need a DNA change.
“There will be change moving forward. That’s just the nature of the business,” Treliving said. “We’ve gotta find a way to create the team, both between the ears and personnel, to be our best at the critical moments. There’s some DNA that needs to change in our team.”
The Maple Leafs enter the offseason with just over $25.7 million in cap space.
Trade Idea Has Maple Leafs Re-Acquiring $22 Million Gritty Forward