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David Alter
Jun 28, 2024
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Domi is an unrestricted free agent on June 30 but 'badly' wants to stay in Toronto

After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is a fan of Max Domi and the player has expressed a desire to return. But what will it take for players to stay and not test the market in free agency?

On the latest edition of the '32 Thoughts Podcast', Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman broke down Domi's asking price. 

"I've heard four times four (million dollars) was what Domi was looking for and I don't think that's unreasonable," Friedman said. "Badly wants to stay."

In his media availability on Wednesday, Treliving indicated that defense was a top priority for the Leafs and with just under $20 million in salary cap room, he'll want to get a defenseman or two locked up before going back to some of his pending unrestricted free agents, like Domi, that he is interested in bringing back."

“The question is, does Domi go get something else? Does (Tyler) Bertuzzi get something else?" Friedman questioned.

Domi signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Leafs last summer and scored eight goals while adding 38 assists in 80 games during the 2023-24 season. He fit in well alongside star center Auston Matthews toward the latter portion of the season and throughout the club's first-round series playoff loss to the Boston Bruins.

After signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Toronto last summer, Bertuzzi is also a free agent. He scored 21 goals and 22 assists in 80 games. Like Domi, Bertuzzi also expressed an interest in returning.

For the Leafs, it's just about making the pieces fit under the $88 million salary cap.

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