Leafs Fans Starting to Favor Bringing In UFA as Opposed To Resigning Bunting
The Leafs' offseason plan remains uncertain, yet it seems that fans are already beginning to favor a high-profile UFA over Michael Bunting.
Leafs Fans Begin to Favor UFA Acquisition Over Bunting's Resigning
Michael Bunting holds a special place in Toronto, but with his contract nearing its end and a substantial payday on the horizon, fans are increasingly leaning towards the market's biggest name this offseason.
Tyler Bertuzzi's career has been intriguing so far, but he made a substantial leap during his stint in Boston and in the playoffs. Although the past year was below Bertuzzi's standards, he still emerged as one of the best players in the Boston/Florida first-round series.
Scoring 5 goals and accumulating 10 points in the seven-game series, Bertuzzi demonstrated his suitability for playoff hockey. Bunting's playoffs were decidedly less thrilling. With only one goal and two points across seven games, Bunting was a letdown.
Consequently, fans have already started to prefer Bertuzzi over Bunting. Bertuzzi plays a game identical to Bunting's but is considerably more physical and willing to engage in fights.
Bertuzzi is projected to receive a 5-year contract worth $5.25 million annually, which is more than fair for a consistent 20-goal scorer who could potentially score upwards of 30.
It's highly probable that Bertuzzi will land a contract worth over $6 million. If Toronto is willing to spend on the forward, he could become an invaluable asset during playoff time and possibly make the difference between a second-round exit and a Stanley Cup victory.
| POLL | ||
Would you sign Tyler Bertuzzi to a 6x $6.5m deal? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 42.3 % |
| No | 60 | 57.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
