Toronto Maple Leafs Should Move Tyler Bozak Soon

James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

With the Toronto Maple Leafs finally unloading a key piece of their roster in order to acquire assets, expect more moves to come soon. Tyler Bozak is next to be moved by the Leafs. Only questions is when, and at what price.

Bozak has been the closest player to a first-line center since he has arrived in Toronto, but the only places he could be a first line center could be counted on your right-hand. Anywhere else, Bozak would be a second line center at best.

Last season in a year full of lows for the Leafs, the center put up career numbers and has gotten attention because of it. Bozak set a new career-high in goals last season with 23, while matching his career-high in points with 49. He would most likely put up more intriguing numbers if he did not have to play against top lines every night.

Those numbers are not by any means outstanding, especially for a first line center, but it makes it urgent for the Leafs to move him quickly. The 29-year-old, undrafted free agent out of the NCAA has been with the Leafs since 2009-10 and has played to the best of his ability. He has done all he could since joining Toronto, but it is time to move him and his $4.2 million per season contract.

With Toronto searching for assets and young prospects in an effort to rebuild, Bozak could bring in a good return in a trade with a team looking for depth. The Leafs’ asking price is reportedly a second-round draft pick, but for any team a depth player at $4.2 million a season can be a little much.

With the Leafs now having centers Nazem Kadri, Peter Holland, Richard Panik, and Shawn Matthias all under contract for next season, it makes sense for the Leafs to move Bozak.

It all depends on whether the Leafs want to take the chance at keeping Bozak for next season. If they are going to then they better hope his productivity doesn’t fall or else that asking price may plummet.

Bozak in all fairness is not a first line center, but is playing there due to the team’s inability to acquire a top center. I am certain that if Toronto were to deal him elsewhere he would definitely be a good asset to a team and the Leafs would be satisfied with what they received for him.

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