Bertuzzi and Domi have expressed interest in re-signing with Toronto after spending a season in the organization.
Bertuzzi and Domi have expressed interest in re-signing with Toronto after spending a season in the organization.
The Maple Leafs want to bring Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi back, but the length of the contract could be the reason for a roadblock in negotiations.
Earlier this month, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that Toronto is interested in bringing back Domi and Bertuzzi, and for that to happen, it needs to "work" for the player and team.
"We’ve got, certainly, some issues that we have to address on the roster," Treliving told LeBrun. "There’s a pie and there’s only so much to go around."
Domi — who's often said it's a dream to play for Toronto, the city he was born in — has expressed his interest in re-signing with the Maple Leafs. He confirmed so during Toronto's locker cleanout day in May.
"Do I want to come back? Absolutely," Domi said. "I think this team has everything it takes to do something special and I would love to help them do that."
Both forwards signed a one-year deal with Toronto last summer. (Domi signed for $3 million while Bertuzzi signed for $5.5 million.) And now, with each player being 29 years old, they'll want some length to their next contract.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who appeared on Leafs Morning Take on Wednesday, Toronto is being fairly cautious with giving out term, and if either of these two players gets to free agency, it'll likely be because the two sides couldn't agree on contract length.
"I know Domi wants some term. Look, I think Max Domi is a perfect Leaf. I think he's going to be happy to be here for a long time. I think Toronto is nervous of term. I think if they can find a term number that makes sense to both sides, then I think it happens," Friedman said.
"Bertuzzi is the interesting one. I also think they want to bring him back. But again, I think the Leafs are trying to be really careful about term, and that's one thing that I was warned, if they lose some of these players, it's probably going be because of term more than AAV."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8MOOVtv4hI[/embed]
Domi finished the season with nine goals and 38 assists in 80 games while Bertuzzi scored 21 goals and 22 assists in 80 games with Toronto.
According to AFP Analytics, Domi is projected to receive a two-year deal with an annual average value of nearly $3.6 million. Bertuzzi is forecasted to get a four-year contract with an AAV of around $5.3 million.
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