Well known NHL insider thinks the Leafs are pursuing a top six winger
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period wrote in his recent article that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be in the market for a top six winger. So far this season the Leafs have gotten a healthy amount of offence from the "big four" consisting of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.
Those four players have combined for 16 goals in the first six games of the season, taking care of most of the team's offensive needs in the early going of the season. But after those four there isn't much offence coming from the other eight forwards on the Leafs.
In a recent article for The Hockey News, David Alter wrote that the reason Bertuzzi was demoted to the bottom-six is because of his poor play. Maple Leafs' head coach Sheldon Keefe explained further:
Bert's playing less than 100 percent right now, it's very clear from the pace of the game, the physicality and competitiveness of the game and the difficulty of the matchups. Whoever was going to play with Auston (Matthews and Mitch (Marner) needed a lot and I thought lightening his load was beneficial to him.
Big free agent signings haven't paid off yet
The Maple Leafs made a splash in free agency during the offseason, signing Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi to one-year deals. So far that hasn't paid off for the team. Domi hasn't scored any goals yet and Bertuzzi only has one goal.
Pagnotta thinks the Leafs could be interested in making a play for a top-six player even early on in the season.
They're only six games in, but the Toronto Maple Leafs may be getting a head start on potential targets for later in the season. The team has been gauging the future market on a cost-effective top-six winger