Could former Bruin Tyler Bertuzzi end up on his old club?
Could former Bruin Tyler Bertuzzi end up on his old club?
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi is one of the top free agents who could hit the market on July 1. Both the Maple Leafs and Bertuzzi are interested in keeping their relationship going, but at this juncture, a new deal has not come to fruition.
If the Maple Leafs decide to go in a different direction and Bertuzzi becomes a free agent, he will be a hot commodity. This is because he is not only an impactful top-six forward offensively, but he also plays a very chippy game. He is also still only 29 years old, so he has multiple years left in his prime.
Interestingly, Bertuzzi is being viewed as a possible target for one of his former teams. In a recent article for The Hockey News' main site, Adam Proteau brought up the prospect of the Detroit Red Wings making a push to bring back their former star.
Proteau noted that the Red Wings are in a prime position to do some spending, currently having just over $30 million of cap space. They have notable RFAs like Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider to re-sign, but even with that, they still have enough money to work with to pursue Bertuzzi. In addition, Proteau added that the Red Wings are looking to take that next step, so bringing back a skilled winger like Bertuzzi would be beneficial.
The Bruins acquired Bertuzzi from the Red Wings before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline passed. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin memorably got emotional when the Red Wings moved Bertuzzi, as the two became close friends playing together in Detroit. Perhaps this could also be a reason for Detroit to look to bring back the Sudbury, Ontario native if he hits free agency.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5BhMU0vUDo[/embed]
There are certainly reasons there for the Red Wings to explore a Bertuzzi reunion, just like there are for the Bruins. It will be intriguing to see what happens with the scrappy forward from here.
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