May 15, 2024 | 1:35pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

LEAFS INTERESTED IN KEEPING BERTUZZI

Tyler Bertuzzi, forward

As the Toronto Maple Leafs focus on hiring a new head coach, they will soon shift their attention to the roster once a new bench boss is hired.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is in the middle of firming up his coaching position and ultimately the staff, and as TFP’s David Pagnotta has reported since the start of the playoffs, former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube remains a frontrunner for Toronto’s vacancy.

According to Pagnotta, the belief is the Maple Leafs want to hire their next coach this week and two separate sources suggest a decision could be made by the weekend.

With just over $19.4 million in available salary cap space for the 2024-25 season, the Maple Leafs have some wiggle room to add to their roster this summer and possibly retain some of their pending unrestricted free agents.

One player Maple Leafs have already expressed interest in re-signing is top-six forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who is eligible to become UFAs July 1.

As Pagnotta reported on Wednesday, the Leafs have relayed the message to Bertuzzi that they want to discuss what a new contract will look like, and the feeling is mutual. Contract negotiations have not yet started between the Leafs and Bertuzzi’s camp, but those discussions will pick up after Toronto hires a new coach.

Though not yet confirmed, the Leafs are also speculated to have expressed the same interest in keeping forward Max Domi, while the same cannot currently be said for defenceman T.J. Brodie, who has not been given that indication from Treliving, as of this date, and is expected to test the free agent waters this summer.

Bertuzzi, 29, signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Maple Leafs last off-season. He picked up 29 of his 43 points this season after the calendar flipped to 2024 and elevated his game in the second-half of the campaign.

It is unclear what type of contract he will be looking for, though a multi-year agreement is the expected pursuit on both sides.

TFP’s David Pagnotta contributed to this report.