Jordan Schmaltz suggests contract offer for Tyler Bertuzzi from Leafs

Bertuzzi is set to become an unrestricted free agent a month from today should the Leafs not come to an agreement with him before that. The team offered him a one-year, prove-it style deal last summer and it largely paid off as he scored 21 goals and 43 points for the team in the regular season, adding a goal and three helpers to tie for the team lead in scoring in their series against the Boston Bruins.

Pagnotta added that it is 'very early' in the discussions with Bertuzzi, but the fact that the team is talking with him at all is a good indication that he will be back. The Leafs may have to pay a but more than they would like to keep him, but Bertuzzi was a solid part of this team, especially in the second half of the season and the playoffs.

Former NHL defenseman Jordan Schmaltz gave a very detailed possible contract offer the Leafs could make to the winger. It is three years long with an AAV of 4.75 million dollars. That would be a total of 14.75 million dollars, of which 7 million should be paid out in signing bonuses, according to Schmaltz' deal.

This offer seems very reasonable for both sides. Is this what Bertuzzi is asking? Is that what the Leafs are offering? Or is this just a random idea from Schmaltz. It very well could be the latter, but the NHL is a small world. Schmaltz very well could know someone very close to this situation. As such, This could very well be close to what Bertuzzi's final deal looks like. We will just have to wait and see what the next month has in store for us.