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Bertuzzi had 21 goals and 22 assists in 80 games.

TJ Brodie joins Bertuzzi in Chi-Town

It was pretty clear down the stretch that Brodie and the Maple Leafs were nearing an end when Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving expressed an interest in reshaping the look on defense. Although Brodie's tenure with the Leafs started well on the top unit with Morgan Rielly, he struggled in the final year of his four-year deal and was a healthy scratch for all by one playoff game in the team's first-round exit against the Boston Bruins.

But the demand for veteran defensemen was strong and Brodie got a two-year deal with the Blackhawks worth $3.75 million per season.

Edmundson and Lyubushkin head to the Western Conference

Need additional proof that market for defensive depth is strong? Joel Edmundson signed a four-year deal worth $3.8 million with the Los Angeles Kings, while Ilya Lyubushkin signed a three-year deal with $3.35 million with the Dallas stars

Edmundson and Lyubushkin were picked up by the Maple Leafs before the 2024 NHL Trade deadline. 

Lajoie joins Kraken

You may be forgiven if you don't remember that Max Lajoie's seven games with the Leafs. The Leafs evidently forgot when they omitted his name from he list of players they either did or did not qualify. But alas, the Leafs didn't qualify Lajoie and the defenseman signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken.