Keefe ready to push Bertuzzi during scoring struggles: 'He's gotta work'

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is trying to strike the perfect balance between encouraging and pushing Tyler Bertuzzi as the forward toils away in an 18-game goal drought.

"As I've discussed with him, he's gotta work at his game," the bench boss told media Wednesday, including TSN. "He's gotta practice, he's gotta shoot with purpose, he's gotta take every rep in practice and have it be meaningful.

"Quite honestly, it's not just a this season thing, it's last season as well. His pace is not a whole lot different than where he was a season ago. You're trying to get him back closer to the 30-goal Bertuzzi, but we haven't been able to do that."

Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $5.5-million deal with Toronto in July as the Maple Leafs looked to boost their supporting cast following the loss of Michael Bunting. However, Bertuzzi hasn't lived up to expectations, totaling six goals and 21 points in 50 games while predominantly riding on a line with some combination of the Leafs' core four forwards.

The 28-year-old played in 50 games last campaign between the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins, posting eight goals and 30 points while battling two separate hand injuries. Bertuzzi is on pace for around 10 goals and 34 points this season.

Despite his current dry spell, Keefe said he's seen a lot of positives to Bertuzzi's game.

"You do bet that it's going to fall. And you encourage him because he is getting the chances," he said. "To me, he's played good hockey. You don't get those types of chances if you're not playing good hockey and doing good things. ... He's done a lot of little things very well that don't show up on the scoresheet, and he's getting the chances, so that's very encouraging."

Though he hasn't found the back of the net since late December, Bertuzzi has chipped in with seven assists over his last 18 games. He's also racked up 29 shots, 54 shot attempts, and around four individual expected goals at all strengths during that span, per Natural Stat Trick.

Bertuzzi's best statistical campaign came in 2021-22 when he amassed 30 goals and 62 points in 68 outings. Only six of those tallies came on the man advantage, but he's getting significantly less time on the power play this season.

Keefe said he's had conversations with Bertuzzi about giving him more looks on the power play, but it isn't a given.

"I think he can bear down on those opportunities and be a guy that's really pushing for those minutes rather than us just trying to hand them to him," he said.

Bertuzzi's next chance to end his scoring struggles comes Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.