Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi both had terrible starts to their Toronto Maple Leafs careers, but they have both been
performing much better recently.
In other words, Max Domi is playing like the offensive one-dimensional player that his reputation suggests he is, and
Tyler Bertuzzi has been playing well all season long but is only now starting to turn around his poor performance.
The Leafs are getting around what they signed both players for last summer, which is what they expected.
But it will be difficult to resign them.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Can’t Give Out Long-Term Deals to 30 Year-Olds
Domi and Bertuzzi are excellent additions since their one-year contracts provide the Leafs a great deal of flexibility
during the off-season.
It would be entirely reasonable if every athlete re-upped for a single season at the same cost.
Otherwise, though, it’s a lousy plan.
Although Domi is a superb passer, he is not an NHL player when the puck is out of his hands. With an Expected
Goals Percentage of 48%, he is losing minutes even in the absence of luck.
Because he mostly requires intense sheltering in order to be effective, he also makes it difficult for the coach to ice a
balanced lineup. Signing him means you are now committed to paying money and using a roster slot that could have
gone to a younger, less expensive player because at 29, he isn’t going to get any better.
For a lot less money, Matthews Knies, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmber, Easton Cowen, and Frazer Minten can all
likely match Domi’s total contributions the next season. The funds might then be diverted to pay a top player and
improve the team by making better use of its cap space.
Brand-name Because they provide the least value for every dollar among all NHL players, non-stars are the most
expensive. Domi is the perfect example of this kind of player.
Only one week older than Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi is better. Though he carries more danger than Domi, he still merits a
larger investment. Even though he’s usually a fairly effective player, his playing style does not age well, and he’s not
exactly a star.
Regarding significant money and several years to Bertuzzi, I would be extremely cautious because he may easily turn
into a David Clarkson-style disaster.
The best course of action would be to go back to the UFA market and sign guys with upside who are motivated to
sign a one-year deal, similar to what Domi and Bertuzzi did last year, if they are not amenable to being re-signed to a
one-year deal with a slight raise.
While Domi is still one of the most underappreciated players in NHL history, both players are currently benefiting
the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the appropriate use, however, Domi can be a valuable asset to a team. Since it’s nearly
always a bad idea to sign 30-year-olds to costly long-term deals, neither player should receive a long-term contract.
