There are a number of slow, but talented players in the NHL who can get the job done in more ways than just using their legs. The Chicago Blackhawks have the slowest NHL forward by top speed among players who have played at least 20 games this season.
Tyler Bertuzzi's top speed in MPH has been 20.1. Jamie Benn ranks second at 20.2 MPH as well as Kevin Hayes, Pius Suter, Andrei Kuzmenko, Connor Zary, Kaapo Kakko, Corey Perry, Evgeni Malkin, and Aatu Raty all at 20.8 MPH or slower.
Despite Bertuzzi's lack of speed, he has had a very good season for Chicago. He is first on the team in goals with 24 in 43 games and second on the team in points with 37, and it's not particularly close behind him.
The 30-year-old knows where to go to be effective and has already passed his goal totals from each of the past two seasons in half the games while approaching it in points. Bertuzzi is playing the most per game that he has since the 2021-22 season with the Detroit Red Wings and is on pace to pass his career highs from that season of 30 goals and 62 points.
Bertuzzi is on pace to finish with 44 goals and 68 points. Bertuzzi hangs around the net, is a pest, and has been effective on the power play, with or without Connor Bedard or Frank Nazar in the lineup.
Over the last 15-game stretch, Bertuzzi has been proving himself as not just a secondary scorer, but someone who can help lead and someone who can step up when he's needed. Over the past five games he has five goals and six points and in his last 10 games, he has eight goals and 11 points.
Bertuzzi is still signed for two more years at a great price tag for what he's contributing to the Blackhawks. If he keeps it up, that is an unexpected outcome that Chicago will take.
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