Martin Jones is now in the mix as the Maple Leafs add to their goaltending depth. There were whispers circling around that Tyler Bertuzzi was looking for a long-term deal. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the forward were eyeing the same path before settling on a one-year, $5.5 million contract. "I’m of the belief that Toronto wanted to sign Bertuzzi longer and I think Bertuzzi wanted to sign longer. But, they just didn’t have the ability to do it now," Friedman said on Sportsnet Today [https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/sportsnet-today/] with hosts Sam McKee and Jesse Rubinoff. Well, what does that mean after Jan. 1 when they are able to sign him to an extension?" Bertuzzi was one of a handful of free agent signings that new general manager Brad Treliving has made since stepping into the position three months ago. Outside of extending Auston Matthews and David Kampf, and signing Ryan Reaves to a three-year, $4.05 million contract, his deals have mostly been one year. He was unable to get an agreement done with goaltender Ilya Samsonov before arbitration had settled on a one-year, $3.55 million deal for the Russian. That has left the Maple Leafs with a ton of salary cap flexibility for the 2024-25 season when the upper limit is expected to see its first substantial raise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Treliving will not get to observe his team on a day-to-day basis and it's quite possible that he leaves a lot of other big decisions until later in the season. That includes William Nylander, who has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1. But Jan. 1 will be key. If the Maple Leafs get off to a hot start and some of the newcomers make a case to stick around longer, then players like Bertuzzi, Max Domi and John Klingberg, who all signed one-year deals, could sign an extension as soon as January 1, 2024. Related Why the Maple Leafs Extended Head Coach Sheldon Keefe For Another Two Years [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/why-the-maple-leafs-extended-head-coach-sheldon-keefe-for-another-two-years] Report: Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jordie Benn Joins Stars on Professional Tryout [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/report-former-maple-leafs-defenseman-jordie-benn-joins-stars-on-professional-tryout] Report: Maple Leafs 'Looked At' Trading William Nylander This Summer [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/report-maple-leafs-looked-at-trading-william-nylander-this-summer] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNDkyNTkyMDI5MjQ2NTcy/ae75831e-3007-4911-89bc-9ef5f31ea566.jpg] News from THN.com NHL Hot Seat Radar 2023: Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-hot-seat-radar-2023-winnipeg-jets] Hockey Canada's September Summit Aims to Combat Toxic Culture of the Sport [https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-canadas-september-summit-aims-to-combat-toxic-culture-of-the-sport] 2023-24 NHL Season Preview: Arizona Coyotes [https://thehockeynews.com/video/2023-24-nhl-season-preview-arizona-coyotes] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNDkyNTgxMjkxODI4MzMy/2392753d-caea-4486-ba20-54286428596a.jpg]
