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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a great deal of directional uncertainty entering Day 1 of the NHL Draft in Las Vegas on Friday that has little to do with their selection at 23rd overall. The Mitch Marner situation clouds what Brad Treliving can do, and that limits what business the Leafs GM is able to get done before the start of free agency on July 1 with his own free agents before they hit the open market.
Tyler Bertuzzi - TSN’s Darren Dreger said on 1050 Toronto on Friday that the soon-to-be free agent is “super motivated” to stay with the Leafs and is willing to be creative, to the point that he would be willing to take less than the $5.5 million AAV he got on a one-year deal last summer.
Analysis - The second half of last season and playoff performance from Bertuzzi was more in line with what they expected from him. If he is willing to take less (in the $4.5 million AAV range) on a three-or-four year deal, that would be in his favor to stay, but the Leafs priority clearly is to upgrade on defense and retaining free agent forwards is secondary unless they have cap flexibility after a Marner deal.
Max Domi - There has been some talk that the reports after the season of Domi looking for a five-year deal for as much as $6 million and that the mutual desire to get an extension done has brought things down to more realistic numbers. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday that the number may be four years at $4 million AAV.
Analysis - Again…..fair numbers for Domi when you take into consideration his chemistry with Auston Matthews, his playmaking ability, versatility to play wing and center, and his potential of being a fit as a set-up man in place of Marner, but as Friedman indicated and has been clear since the end of the season, the priority for Treliving is to upgrade on defense.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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