Former Red Wings forward emerging as trade candidate with new team amidst hot start
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
A former Detroit Red Wings forward is emerging as a potential trade candidate for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Tyler Bertuzzi, the Detroit Red Wings' 58th pick in 2013, has been playing with the Chicago Blackhawks for two years now but spent the first ten years of his NHL journey with the Red Wings.
Last night, he scored a hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, showing that he can still be a dynamic player in the NHL. After 13 games, the forward has 10 points, including six goals.
Before he joined the Hawks, he scored 88 goals and 114 assists in 305 games with the Red Wings.
Now, after a great start and with Chicago potentially looking to slowly trade their veterans away to make room for their talented prospects set to be ready for the NHL soon, Bertuzzi could end up on the trade market once again.
Former Wings Tyler Bertuzzi Could Have Great Value On The Trade Market
The Chicago Blackhawks don't have salary cap issues and are among the youngest teams in the NHL. Bertuzzi has two years left on his $5.5M AAV contract and plays a big role in the team's top six, adding grit and edge to the lineup.
But if he keeps performing well, playoff-contending organizations could start calling Davidson to inquire about the veteran forward.
The Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill had great words about Bertuzzi following his hat trick:
"He's a guy you appreciate more from ice level than you might from up top.
Skating doesn't always look great, but man, he wins pucks, and that's kind of who he's always been for me. He's great on that back post. He's really learned over the years how to build a wall on that back post and people shoot for it and they go in. It's a great way to score.
'Bert,' for me, has been very good all season, and he had another good one tonight."
Skating doesn't always look great, but man, he wins pucks, and that's kind of who he's always been for me. He's great on that back post. He's really learned over the years how to build a wall on that back post and people shoot for it and they go in. It's a great way to score.
'Bert,' for me, has been very good all season, and he had another good one tonight."
Bertuzzi also has a 10-team modified no-trade clause, which could complicate things. At this point, the Hawks could surely benefit from keeping him a while longer, although rumors will keep circulating.
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