On Saturday night during Hockey Night in Canada’s ’32 Thoughts’ segment, Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman gave an update on Tyler Bertuzzi less than two weeks out from the NHL Trade Deadline.
“One of the reasons I think the forward herd is thinning out a little bit is because of Tyler Bertuzzi.
By points percentage, the Detroit Red Wings are in the playoffs right now, even though they don’t have the points total because they have played fewer games. That has led to the belief that, at least for the time being, Tyler Bertuzzi is not available. The Red Wings will keep him as long as they make their run to the playoffs through the trade deadline.”
Currently, the Red Wings sit three points back of the two Eastern Conference Wild Card spots presently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders. The Red Wings have played 55 games, while the only team in front of them (the Buffalo Sabres at 54 games) has played fewer.
The Red Wings have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since the All-Star break, recently coming off a five-game win streak and a record of 7-3 their past ten. A big part of Detroit’s surge is the play from the top line, specifically Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi has played up to the standard he set last year in the seven games since the All-Star break, scoring a goal and adding six assists.
While the math isn’t favorable for the Red Wings to make the playoffs, there is still the business side of hockey. Selling a fanbase on a playoff race who hasn’t seen postseason action since 2016 is important for engagement, especially in a new building. There is also the possibility Steve Yzerman is “taking Bertuzzi off the market” to make teams more desperate in a scarce market, increasing Bertuzzi’s potential trade value. The Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Tampa Bay Lightning were among the teams interested in Tyler Bertuzzi.
The Red Wings have six games remaining before the deadline, which should paint a clearer picture of where the Red Wings stand in the playoff picture.
