NHL teams reportedly 'embarrassed' by what they were able to offer to Tyler Bertuzzi after he signs with Maple Leafs

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Josh tupper
July 3, 2023 (8:35)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised everyone when they signed Tyler Bertuzzi. However it wasn't the signing of Bertuzzi that surprised people, it was the contract they were able to sign him to that shocked people. The Maple Leafs signed Bertuzzi to a one-year contract with a cap hit of 5.5 million dollars.

It had been reported that Bertuzzi was initially looking for a long-term contract, but it appears that no team was able to facilitate that. Now Bertuzzi is betting on himself with a one-year deal playing next to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

According to Andy Strickland after the Bertuzzi signing multiple teams felt embarrassed by how much money they were able to offer Bertuzzi.

Tyler Bertuzzi could have signed with several teams on a 1 yr deal. Florida, Nashville, Carolina among them. Teams are almost embarrassed with the lack of money they can offer. He's betting a yr with Matthews/Marner will set him up nicely as a UFA next summer.

The Boston Bruins were reportedly interested in retaining Bertuzzi, but according to reports never even considered a one-year deal being a possibility. With the salary cap only having gone up $1,000,000 this year teams were left rather handcuffed. Those teams lose, has ended up being the Maple Leafs gain.