The Leafs have been off to a worrying start this season. After 11 games played, the team has a very mediocre 5-4-2 record and most of their offseason acquisitions are struggling to make a positive impact on the team. Now one of the new Leafs may find himself leaving Canada's largest city sooner than expected.
Through 11 games, Tyler Bertuzzi has just three points, including two goals. That is not the kind of production the team is paying him for, especially since he's spent most of his time playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Furthermore, Bertuzzi was supposedly brought in to provide a little extra grit and toughness. The organization finds themselves questioning if he really has those qualities after his response to Brad Marchand taking out Timothy Liljegren earlier this week.
One idea for Bertuzzi involves sending him back to the Bruins. After all, it would have been difficult to tell what team he was on in the altercation with Marchand if he wasn't wearing a jersey. Just based on his reaction alone he seemed to be having more fun with Brad than he was with his new teammates. Such a trade would be difficult though. The Bruins currently have a little over 50k in cap space and that's with 3.5 million on LTIR. The Leafs have even less cap room to work with. Bertuzzi is currently on a one-year 5.5 million dollar contract.
That being said, the Leafs have reportedly been looking into their options with Bertuzzi, including a possible trade. If they want to work out a deal with Boston a third team will likely have to be involved and it will be very complicated, but where there is a will, there's a way.
