During the 2024 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year, $22 million contract. The expectation was that he would be a key part of the Blackhawks' forward group, and it is fair to say that he was just that for them during the 2024-25 season.
While Bertuzzi had a tough start to his Blackhawks tenure, he still finished the 2024-25 campaign with 23 goals, 23 assists, and 46 points in 82 games. This included recording six goals and 12 points in his final 15 games of the season, so he ended the year on a high note.
Now, the Blackhawks will be hoping that Bertuzzi can that momentum over to next season and continue to be an important offensive contributor. When looking at the Blackhawks' roster, he is easily one of their best wingers, so they need him to be in his top form if they hope to be more competitive in 2025-26. Due to this, he is undoubtedly one of the Blackhawks' top X-factors to watch heading into the new campaign.
It is going to be very fascinating to see what kind of season Bertuzzi can put together from here. If he can get his offense up a bit more and continue to provide some bite, it would be significant for a Blackhawks club looking to take that next step.
Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Has Big Year Ahead
All eyes will be on <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> young star Connor Bedard next season. The 20-year-old forward is entering the final season of his entry-level contract, and he certainly is due for a significant raise from his current $950,000 average annual value (AAV) on his next deal. Thus, this upcoming season is undoubtedly a significant one for Bedard. If he waits to sign his next contract and puts together a big season for the Blackhawks, it would only raise his value even further.
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