Fantasy Impact: Leafs Sign Tyler Bertuzzi
Dobber
2023-07-02
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed winger Tyler Bertuzzi to a one-year deal worth $5.5M AAV.
The Maple Leafs get: a hardworking, tenacious buzzsaw and former 30-goal scorer who is still in his prime. Although Bertuzzi isn't anywhere near the size of his uncle (Todd Bertuzzi), Tyler nonetheless plays hard. It's surprising that he barely averages one Hit per game. He does get injured often, and is a Certified Band-Aid Boy. But when healthy, he is a volume shooter and clutch producer who is ideal for playoff hockey. This was exemplified by his 10 points in seven games in the postseason with Boston, but also his 39 points in 42 career AHL playoff games and the five goals that he scored in four Memorial Cup games (in 2014).
Fantasy Players Impacted: It goes without saying that Bertuzzi will be taking Calle Jarnkrok's spot in the top six. So Jarnkrok loses Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner, and instead likely lines up with David Kampf and Sam Lafferty. A slight downgrade there. Oof.
This also impacts rookie Matthew Knies, who has a top-six spot penciled in. He'll still keep that spot, but his PP ice time will take a hit. How big of a hit will depend on how well he performs, how well Bertuzzi performs (and meshes with the stars on the team), and the health of Bertuzzi.
Matthews and Marner will also benefit from this. They just added a quality winger to their line. Bertuzzi is better than now-former-Leaf Michael Bunting and he's better than Jarnkrok. This could very well become the best line in all of hockey – if Bertuzzi clicks. Sometimes, good players just don't click, so we have to make sure we don't get ahead of ourselves.
As for Bertuzzi, himself: potential for a career year. If he meshes with them.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
- Bertuzzi
- Big, big gap
- Marner
- Matthews
- John Klingberg
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:
- Jarnkrok
- Knies (slightly)
Here is Bertuzzi’s Player Usage Chart, with Toronto and Boston players from last year as comparables.