Sebastian Cossa on Adjusting to Life in the ECHL Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0NDg3MjQ3OTYwMDI0NzUz/usatsi_19493059.jpg] Injuries have limited winger Tyler Bertuzzi to just nine games this season. Eligible for unrestricted free agent status in July, the 27-year-old faces an uncertain future with the Detroit Red Wings. Bertuzzi has a long injury history, including back surgery that sidelined him for most of the 2020-21 campaign. His unvaccinated status for COVID-19 last season prevented him from playing games in Canada. In a recent mailbag segment, Michigan Live's Ansar Khan [https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2022/12/red-wings-mailbag-will-bertuzzi-berggren-hellberg-stick-around.html] was asked if Bertuzzi's latest injury would affect his contract negotiations with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. Khan didn't think so as they already know what he's capable of when healthy and in good shape. Khan felt the bigger question was whether they can reach an agreement on a new contract before the March 3 trade deadline. Cap Friendly [https://www.capfriendly.com/players/tyler-bertuzzi] indicates he's in the final season of a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4.75 million. Bertuzzi could use his career-best 2021-22 performance of 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games as justification for a significant raise on a long-term deal. However, Yzerman might be unwilling to invest too much in him for too long. Yzerman could shop Bertuzzi by the trade deadline if the two sides fail to hammer out a new contract by then. Khan cited the Toronto Maple Leafs' previous interest in the winger and believes they could remain the logical destination. It's assumed the Leafs could put their focus on shoring up their injury-depleted blueline, but they're getting solid efforts from young defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren. If they feel confident in those two for the remainder of the season, perhaps they'll shift their focus toward adding a forward such as Bertuzzi.
