Opinion: Detroit Needs to Sign Tyler Bertuzzi

The Detroit Red Wings need to either lock Tyler Bertuzzi into a long-term extension or trade him before the deadline next spring. Bertuzzi can become a UFA next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Red Wings. After the last trade deadline passed, Bertuzzi indicated he wanted to remain with Detroit. The recent additions have bolstered the Red Wings lineup, whereby they should push for a playoff spot next year. Bertuzzi has yet to play in a playoff game in six seasons with Detroit.

Here is a look at what the negotiations might look like for the Red Wings second highest scorer from last season.

Current Contract

After Tyler Bertuzzi’s three-year entry-level contract expired, Bertuzzi signed a two-year extension so that he could remain with the Detroit Red Wings. This extension had a cap hit of $1.4M annually and expired after the 2019-2020 season. Bertuzzi took the Red Wings to arbitration in the summer of 2020 and was awarded a one-year contract with a cap hit of $3.5M annually. Instead of signing a long-term deal to stay in Detroit, Bertuzzi signed a two-year extension with a cap hit of $4.75M. This deal has one year remaining on it before Bertuzzi can file for free agency. He would become a UFA, whereby Detroit would not be entitled to compensation if he decided to sign with another team.

Bertuzzi’s Career

Tyler Bertuzzi was drafted 58th overall by Detroit during the 2013 draft. After being drafted, Bertuzzi returned to his junior team in Guelph (OHL) and promptly helped the team win an OHL Championship. Upon graduation from junior, Bertuzzi finished the year playing two regular season games for Grand Rapids (AHL), then scoring 12 points in 14 playoff games with the Griffins.

Bertuzzi played his first full AHL season in 2015-2016, scoring 30 points in 71 regular season games, then seven goals in nine playoff games.

In 2016-2017, Bertuzzi played most of the season in the AHL, helping lead Grand Rapids to an AHL Calder Cup Championship. Bertuzzi also played seven games for the Red Wings during the regular season.

Bertuzzi started the 2017-2018 season back in the AHL but scored 12 points in 14 games and was promoted to Detroit for the remainder of the season. In 48 games, Bertuzzi scored seven goals and 24 points and had a -7 rating.

In 2018-2019, Bertuzzi played 73 regular season games, scoring 21 goals, 26 assists, 47 points, and had a +11 rating. Bertuzzi also played for Canada in the IIHF World Championships, where he helped Canada win a Silver Medal.

In 2019-2020, Bertuzzi represented Detroit at the all-star game. In 71 games, he scored 21 goals, 27 assists, 48 points, and had a -23 rating.

The 2020-2021 season started brilliantly for Bertuzzi when he scored four goals in the first game of the season against defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay. In nine games, Bertuzzi scored five goals, two assists, seven points, and an even +/- rating. In January, Bertuzzi played his final game because of a nagging back injury. Bertuzzi underwent successful back surgery in May and was fully healed when training camp resumed in September.

Last year, Bertuzzi played 68 games and scored 30 goals for the first time in his career. Playing on a line with captain Dylan Larkin and rookie phenom Lucas Raymond, Bertuzzi set career highs in goals, assists (32), and points (62).

Bertuzzi Remains Unvaccinated

Tyler Bertuzzi made headlines throughout the NHL when he announced that for personal reasons, he was willing to sit out all games in Canada and forfeit his salary to remain unvaccinated from the coronavirus. Bertuzzi was the highest profile player in the NHL to refuse vaccination and thoroughly explained his choice to do so (see above).

The unwillingness to get vaccinated has been detrimental to the Red Wings as a whole. He is one of their top players, missed nine regular-season games last year, and is set to miss more next year if border restrictions remain between Canada and the United States.

What it will take to Sign Bertuzzi

It is tough to say what will happen with Tyler Bertuzzi’s negotiations. On ability alone, Bertuzzi deserves at least $6-6.5M a year. Factoring in his refusal to get vaccinated will likely hurt his bargaining power with Detroit or any team until border sanctions are fully lifted between Canada and the United States.

Bertuzzi has already lost a significant amount of money. The continued refusal of governmental border rules may derail negotiations between Detroit and the Bertuzzi camp. The Red Wings have been tight-lipped regarding negotiations with their star players. It should be interesting to see what happens with Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin before training camp opens in September.

Final Thoughts

General manager Steve Yzerman continues to have difficulty deciding what to do with Bertuzzi. Canadian teams can’t trade for him because he would miss every game played by those teams when they play in U.S. cities. American-based teams know that they will be playing shorthanded every time their respective teams play in Canada. With only one year remaining before he can become a UFA, Bertuzzi’s time in Detroit, or the NHL for that matter, may be coming to an abrupt end. Bertuzzi, at 27, is in the prime earning years of his career, and both he and the Red Wings need to decide on his future. Stay tuned until Bertuzzi is signed. It could be a wild ride for the aggressive forward.

The Three RFAs – The Production Line Podcast

In this episode, we take a look at the Red Wings' three remaining restricted free agents, what dollar range the players are in amongst the league, and what updates we have on the situations. We also cover the Red Wings' prospect games roster and other news across the NHL, such as the Leon Draisaitl extension and the Jeremy Swayman contract negotiations.

1. The Three RFAs 51:54
2. Jerry Maguire 01:10:36
3. Lyon King 55:07
4. Cali Sweep 01:04:30
5. New Year, New Red Wings? 01:05:03