Rumor: Maple Leafs eyeing Tyler Bertuzzi as potential replacement for Zach Hyman.

Red Wings and Maple Leafs may both make big moves here.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Rumor: Maple Leafs eyeing Tyler Bertuzzi as potential replacement for Zach Hyman.
Daniel Lea/CSM/Zuma

As is often the case with the Toronto Maple Leafs, fan expectations are incredibly high at all times in a hockey market of that size, and after yet another disappointing loss in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs there may never have been more pressure on Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, and Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas to transform their roster into a legitimate Stanley Cup playoff contender.

The problem for the Leafs of course is that, due in large part to salary cap constraints, it sounds like they are destined to lose some key pieces of their existing roster in the offseason with no clear replacements in sight. Perhaps most notable on that list of players is veteran forward Zach Hyman who seems destined to be on his way out of Toronto, barring a major move on the part of Dubas to clear up the necessary cap space it would take to compete with the offers Hyman will no doubt see on the free agent market.

It may be however that the Maple Leafs and their management have another plan for dealing with the Hyman situation, one that would see them acquire another veteran winger playing a gritty style on the wing in the National Hockey League. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently indicated that the Maple Leafs have long had interest in Red Wings winger Tyler Bertuzzi, and even hinting at the fact that the Leafs would have considered making a move for him this season had it not been for injuries limiting Bertuzzi.

Bertuzzi is however not an unrestricted free agent like Hyman will be. Instead Bertuzzi, who is coming off a 1 year contract worth $3.5 million, will be a restricted free agent with the Red Wings still retaining control of his rights, which would necessitate a trade on the part of Dubas and the Leafs. 

Making this situation all the more interesting is that the Red Wings are believed to be among the teams that will show interest in Hyman, should he hit the open market as is expected, something that will no doubt add an extra wrinkle to any trade talks that go on between the Red Wings and the Maple Leafs.

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