Toronto Maple Leafs enter panic mode following move by the Chicago Blackhawks
Since the Blackhawks swooped in and signed Tyler Bertuzzi, the choices of forwards left for the Toronto Maple Leafs are slim pickings.
One available forward Brad Treliving will have to consider is Stanley Cup winner, and Pest Nick Cousins.
Brad Treliving signed and traded players outside of the Core 4, and didn't pay any mind to the wing, as he let Tyler Bertuzzi walk into free-agency. Bertuzzi was due a raise, and the Blackhawks were able to sign him with ease.
With free-agency winding down, the Toronto Maple Leafs don't have many options. One of them is controversial player, Nick Cousins, whose been called a pest, is a style of player who the Maple Leafs are sorely missing, a wrecking ball.
Despite a decline in production, he was able to play 12 games during the Stanley Cup playoffs, becoming a part of the Panthers first Stanley Cup run.
The Maple Leafs use former Blackhawk Rem Pitlick, whose only played 132 games in the NHL, scoring in that time frame, 54 points( 21 G, 33 A). He spent last season in the NHL in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs.
And they could also sign Chris Tierney, who could be a useful depth forward. In 2023-2024, he played 52 games with the New Jersey Devils scoring 12 points( 4 G, 8 A) wth a +3 rating.
The Blackhawks who stole Bertuzzi in the off-season have caused the Maple Leafs to scramble frantically, to fill the hole Bertuzzi left.
Source: Hockey Patrol
Nick Cousins among several forwards that could replace Tyler Bertuzzi in Toronto
| POLL | ||
Who should the Maple Leafs sign? | ||
| Nick Cousins | 21 | 40.4 % |
| Chris Tierney | 13 | 25 % |
| Rem Pitlick | 18 | 34.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
