The 2023 NHL offseason is already in full swing, with the NHL Draft just days away. After the draft concludes on Thursday, teams will begin looking forward to the start of NHL free agency on July 1.
This year's free agency class is a bit weaker than other years. However, there are still talented hockey players out there. Look no further than Tyler Bertuzzi, most recently of the Boston Bruins.
Bertuzzi spent six and a half seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. At the trade deadline, the Bruins came calling, acquiring the veteran forward with the idea of making a run at the Stanley Cup.
And, to be fair, it wasn't the worst move. Bertuzzi scored four goals and 16 points in 21 regular season games with Boston. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 28-year-old added five goals and 10 points in seven games.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, their season ended early. They lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games despite completing the greatest regular season we have ever seen.
Now, Bertuzzi hits the open market. And he will certainly have a number of interested teams calling him over the next week or so. With that in mind, here are only three potential landing spots for Tyler Bertuzzi this summer.
3) Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs finally made it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. However, they too ran into those pesky Panthers, and their season ended in round two.
A major reason Toronto lost that series is the fact that their star players were mostly shut down. And when the “core four” weren't leading the charge, the Maple Leafs just fell flat.