TYLER BERTUZZI, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

If there’s a better market for a player to land in than Detroit, it’s the center of the hockey (and hobby) universe, Toronto.

Facing a significant exodus of talent in the offseason, the Leafs looked to add some jam up front with the additions of Bertuzzi and Max Domi. at they were able to lure Bertuzzi away from perennial playoff foe Boston made his acquisition even more valuable. He’s a player who’s not only willing to play in the greasy areas, he thrives in close quarters.

He displayed his full value in the postseason with Boston, scoring five goals and adding five assists in seven games. e favored Bruins were upset by the Florida Panthers, but it wasn’t from a lack of intensity from Bertuzzi.

Although that gritty style allows him to play up and down the lineup, it’s expected he’ll get the first crack at replacing the departed Michael Bunting on Toronto’s top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Add in the potential for heavy usage on the power play where he was especially effective in Boston, and Bertuzzi seems well-situated to improve on his career-best totals of 30 goals and 62 points set back in 2021-22.

“I think he’s a big upgrade (over Bunting),” said Leafs collector Simon Hsu. “I think he’s in for an All Star-caliber season if he takes advantage of his opportunities.”

What’s most intriguing though is that the 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Leafs. Essentially, he’s betting on himself to have a big year so that he might cash in next summer when many believe the salary cap will rise significantly. He could use the exposure available to him in Toronto to enhance his hobby standing and set himself up for a better payday elsewhere. Support players don’t always get the love they deserve from collectors, but Bertuzzi has a unique opportunity to make a big impression in Toronto because of his feisty game.

“I really liked what I saw of him in the playoffs last year,” Hsu said. “He plays that ‘good Canadian boy’ style that so many fans here always say they want to see more of.”

Perhaps because he was playing for a Red Wings team that failed to land a postseason berth in each of the past seven seasons, Bertuzzi has largely been an a erthought for collectors. He has just seven 2016-17 RCs and most of those remain widely affordable, including Upper Deck #471, Upper Deck Ice #163, and Fleer Showcase #117.

His two key RCs are e Cup #115, which is limited to 249 copies, and SP Authentic #187. All of the latter are hard-signed and include a date inscription. Both saw sales ending closer to HI column values in the days a er the signing, suggesting that at least a few collectors are betting early on a big season from Bertuzzi.