Tyler Bertuzzi hit with embarrassing demotion from Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi made a huge bet on himself this summer by accepting a one-year contract to join his 3rd Original 6 team, but things haven't exactly gone according to plan.

Through his first 41 games of the season, he's only scored six goals with 13 assists, a pace of 12 goals and 26 assists over a full 82 game season - not at all the kind of production that Toronto was envisioning, especially given the torrid scoring pace he enjoyed during the postseason with the Boston Bruins.

Bertuzzi is also just two years removed from having scored 30 goals in just 68 games with the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-22.

Bertuzzi found himself stapled to the bench during the 3rd period of Saturday night's game against the Colorado Avalanche, not seeing even two minutes of ice time - immediately bringing back memories of when head coach Sheldon Keefe screamed in Bertuzzi's ear during a game this past November. 

And ahead of Toronto's upcoming game against the Edmonton Oilers, he's been moved out of the top six. During practice today, he found himself skating on a line with Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok:

Holmberg-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Nylander
Bertuzzi-Domi-Jarnkrok
McMann-Kampf-Gregor

Rielly-Brodie
Benoit-McCabe
Giordano-Liljegren

After a personally successful seven-game playoff series as a member of the Bruins, Bertuzzi once again changed teams and inked a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $5.5 million, a far cry from the reported multi-year deal that he was seeking. In fact, it was said that the chief reasoning behind his departure from the Detroit Red Wings at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline was that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was unwilling to offer him a contract any longer than two or three years. 

The Leafs are looking to get back into the swing of things tonight when they play the red-hot Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM EST, and it will be Martin Jones in net. 

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