An Update on Former Detroit Red Wings Forward Tyler Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi is 4/6 of the way through his Original 6 tour, though his current situation is much closer to the bleak days of his early years with the Detroit Red Wings.

One of the main summer signings by Chicago Blackhawks general manager Luke Richardson, Bertuzzi has not been able to help Chicago rise out of the basement in the Western Conference.

The former Central Division foe of the Red Wings occupies the next to last spot in the Conference.

Signed to help relieve some of the pressure off former 1st overall pick Connor Bedard, Bertuzzi only has 31 points (17G, 14A) in 59 games played in his 1st year with the Blackhawks.

It's been a disappointing year for Bertuzzi, who admitted that both he and Bedard need to work harder on being on the same page with one another.

Bertuzzi, who is the nephew of former Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi, started seeing regular NHL action in 2018-19 and was routinely playing on Detroit's top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha in 2019-20.

That year, the Red Wings were the worst team in the NHL by a wide margin. While Bertuzzi was originally thought of as one of the foundational blocks for GM Steve Yzerman to build upon, he traded him to the Boston Bruins in 2023.

After a strong showing in the 7 postseason games he played with Boston, Bertuzzi signed a 1-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs that summer.

He then signed the longest deal of his career in 2024, a 4-year, $22 million pact with Chicago which carries an AAV (average annual value) of $5.5 million.