One year after agreeing to a prove-it contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Tyler Bertuzzi inked a significant four-year, $22 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks as free agency commenced on July 1.
Bertuzzi, though, hadn’t anticipated securing a lengthy contract with Chicago before free agency began while he was still part of the Maple Leafs organization. Bertuzzi disclosed on July 5 that Chicago had not been a consideration for him, but a conversation altered his perception of the team and prompted him to sign with them.
“Chicago wasn’t really a consideration for me,” Bertuzzi explained. “Then, the day before free agency, Nick Foligno reached out to me and mentioned, ‘They’re showing some interest.’ I was thrilled to hear that, and things progressed from there.”
Bertuzzi and Foligno were teammates with the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season. Foligno, who is 36 years old, previously played for the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season, participating in 74 games and earning a total of 37 points through 17 goals and 20 assists.
Meanwhile, Bertuzzi, a former forward for the Maple Leafs, finished his one-year contract in Toronto, appearing in 80 games and tallying 43 points from 21 goals and 22 assists.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson expressed gratitude for Foligno’s assistance on July 5, noting the veteran’s extensive network of friends within the league, including Bertuzzi.
“I believe Nick has a wide circle of friends within the league,” Davidson stated to reporters. “It’s quite amusing to hear about it. We don’t request these actions from them, but Nick shows care. He has a large network and a genuine desire to advance the team.”
Blackhawks Invest in Seasoned Talent to Support Connor Bedard
In June 2023, Foligno became a part of the Blackhawks, joining the team’s rising star, rookie sensation Connor Bedard. He secured an additional two-year contract extension in January 2024, which will keep him with the team until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
Bertuzzi is also embarking on his own four-year contract with the Blackhawks. It appears that Chicago is transitioning into the second phase of their rebuilding efforts, aiming to enlist experienced players who can aid in Bedard’s development and foster an environment conducive to the young rookie’s leadership as they strive to return the Hawks to contention in the coming years.
In addition to acquiring Foligno in the summer of 2023 and Bertuzzi in July 2024, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson secured the signings of forwards Craig Smith, Teuvo Teravainen, and Pat Maroon, as well as defensemen T.J. Brodie and Alec Martinez, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit.
Of all the players mentioned, only fellow free-agent signee Joseph Anderson is younger than 29 years old. Furthermore, with the exception of Bertuzzi, none of the aforementioned players inked contracts extending beyond three seasons, as indicated by Spotrac.
Davidson expressed the team’s ambitions, stating, “We aim to elevate our performance. We aspire to assert ourselves in games more than we have previously, rather than merely reacting to opponents’ plays. Our objective is to possess the puck more, control the game, and ultimately achieve more victories.”
Tyler Bertuzzi’s departure from Toronto was not due to any performance issues during the 2023-24 season with the Maple Leafs
In fact, he performed quite well.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger’s report on June 30, the decision for Bertuzzi not to re-sign with the Maple Leafs largely stemmed from his own success, which resulted in him “out pricing” himself out of the team.
Tyler Bertuzzi won’t be returning to the Maple Leafs. His value has out priced Toronto. He will land a deal elsewhere in the 4 year and over $5 mil per territory.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2024
“Tyler Bertuzzi will not rejoin the Maple Leafs. His worth has exceeded Toronto’s parameters. He is set to secure a contract elsewhere in the range of four years and over $5 million per year,” Dreger announced.
The prediction quickly materialized as the Blackhawks signed Bertuzzi to a four-year deal just a day later.
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However, signs of Bertuzzi’s potential departure were evident since mid-June. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there were concerns within the Leafs organization about the extended contracts that Max Domi and Bertuzzi might request.
“Domi is looking for a long-term commitment,” Friedman stated on June 12. “I believe Max Domi is an ideal fit for the Leafs and would be content to stay for a significant period. However, Toronto is apprehensive about committing to long-term contracts. If they can agree on a suitable term, I think a deal will happen.
“Bertuzzi is an intriguing case,” Friedman added. “I think the Leafs also want to re-sign him. However, once again, the Leafs seem cautious about committing to long-term contracts. I was cautioned that if they lose some of these players, it would likely be due to the term rather than the annual average value (AAV).”
Despite the Leafs parting ways with Bertuzzi, they secured Domi with a four-year, $15 million extension on July 1.
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