Tyler Bozak
Posted 11:04 PM ET | Comments 0
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to decide very quickly whether or not they are going to proceed with Tyler Bozak come the 2013-14 season. Bozak who was signed as an undrafted college player in 2009 exceeded expectations this past year collecting 28 points in 46 games (51 point pace over full season) and played over twenty minutes a night.
This July, Bozak will come off a two year, $3,000,000 contract and be looking for a hefty pay raise as an unrestricted free agent. The dilemma is that Mikhail Grabovski still has four years left at 5.5 million a year and Nazem Kadri coming off his entry level contract with an All-Star calibre season. It is a foregone conclusion that Kadri will be here next season, barring any hiccups in contract negotiations and will be signed anywhere from 3-5.5 million depending on the length of the contract. Bozak will be one of the more sought after centers on the open market and could see a salary between 4-5 million. The question is can the Leafs afford to have all three of those players, which the answer should be no.
It is assumed that Bozak wants to be a Maple Leaf and even tweeted shortly after the team got knocked out “Thanks leafs nation for a very memorable year. Just the beginning of many good things to come around here! Thanks for the support!”. While he doesn’t exactly mention that he is coming back, the assumption is between his always positive Toronto vibe and the supposed great relationship with Phil Kessel he will be back.
So what would the Leafs get out of Bozak?
Positives:
-Great Chemistry with Phil Kessel
-Solid two-way center
-Upper end faceoff man
-40-50 point player, with 55-60 point potential
-Great Attitude
-Very good 2nd-3rd line center
Negatives:
-Not a top line center
Bozak is a key point of the Maple Leafs and needs to be signed. While he is not a great skater, his skating doesn’t hamper him. While he is not a heavy hitting forward, he knows how to rub guys out on the boards. Bozak should be locked into a four year deal and be making between 4-4.5 million a year.
So the bigger question is what happens to Mikhail Grabovski?
This July, Bozak will come off a two year, $3,000,000 contract and be looking for a hefty pay raise as an unrestricted free agent. The dilemma is that Mikhail Grabovski still has four years left at 5.5 million a year and Nazem Kadri coming off his entry level contract with an All-Star calibre season. It is a foregone conclusion that Kadri will be here next season, barring any hiccups in contract negotiations and will be signed anywhere from 3-5.5 million depending on the length of the contract. Bozak will be one of the more sought after centers on the open market and could see a salary between 4-5 million. The question is can the Leafs afford to have all three of those players, which the answer should be no.
It is assumed that Bozak wants to be a Maple Leaf and even tweeted shortly after the team got knocked out “Thanks leafs nation for a very memorable year. Just the beginning of many good things to come around here! Thanks for the support!”. While he doesn’t exactly mention that he is coming back, the assumption is between his always positive Toronto vibe and the supposed great relationship with Phil Kessel he will be back.
So what would the Leafs get out of Bozak?
Positives:
-Great Chemistry with Phil Kessel
-Solid two-way center
-Upper end faceoff man
-40-50 point player, with 55-60 point potential
-Great Attitude
-Very good 2nd-3rd line center
Negatives:
-Not a top line center
Bozak is a key point of the Maple Leafs and needs to be signed. While he is not a great skater, his skating doesn’t hamper him. While he is not a heavy hitting forward, he knows how to rub guys out on the boards. Bozak should be locked into a four year deal and be making between 4-4.5 million a year.
So the bigger question is what happens to Mikhail Grabovski?