Jonathan Marchessault becomes the Leafs' backup should Tyler Bertuzzi depart
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
According to a new report, if the Toronto Maple Leafs lose Tyler Bertuzzi in free agency, Jonathan Marchessault could be Brad Treliving's backup plan.
Maple Leafs' general manager Brad Treliving faces a busy schedule with the draft less than two weeks away and free agency following shortly after.
The GM faces decisions on which free agents to pursue. Currently, Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Joel Edmundson are top candidates for Toronto, potentially leaving Martin Jones, Ilya Samsonov, Ilya Lyubushkin, T.J. Brodie, and Mark Giordano to explore other options in the market.
A recent report suggests an intriguing scenario if Brad Treliving fails to secure a deal with Bertuzzi.
Leafs Consider Jonathan Marchessault as Alternative to Tyler Bertuzzi
Our colleagues at Maple Leafs Daily explored the potential of Treliving pursuing Marchessault in free agency should Bertuzzi choose to sign elsewhere.
David Pagnotta recently emphasized that signing Marchessault is a top priority for the Golden Knights.
"The Vegas Golden Knights want to make this a priority. Have made it internally a priority. And there are going to be discussions between Kelly McCrimmon and Jonathan Marchessault's agent, Pat Brisson, in about a week's time. So we'll see kind of how that develops."
However, due to financial constraints this summer, the Vegas Golden Knights may not have sufficient funds to retain Marchessault, potentially leading him to explore opportunities with other teams.
Despite Treliving's focus on acquiring top defensemen, the prospect of adding Marchessault to the team's top six remains intriguing if the opportunity arises.
The Leafs require players who excel in playoff situations, and Marchessault meets this criterion. With 76 points in 106 postseason games, he also secured both the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022-23.
Depending on the level of interest from other teams, his contract is likely to be around seven million dollars per year.
Do you believe Brad Treliving should prioritize signing Jonathan Marchessault if Tyler Bertuzzi cannot be retained?
Source: Hockey Patrol
Jonathan Marchessault emerges as the Leafs plan B if they lose Tyler Bertuzzi
Jonathan Marchessault emerges as the Leafs plan B if they lose Tyler Bertuzzi
| POLL | ||
16 JUIN | 201 ANSWERS Jonathan Marchessault becomes the Leafs' backup should Tyler Bertuzzi depart Should the Toronto Maple Leafs prioritize signing Jonathan Marchessault if Tyler Bertuzzi cannot be retained? | ||
| Yes | 152 | 75.6 % |
| No | 49 | 24.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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