Inside the Article:
According to a report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams interested in acquiring F Tyler Bertuzzi if he is not able to reach a contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings before the NHL trade deadline. Pagnotta noted that Bertuzzi's agent Todd Reynolds is expected to have “proper discussions” with GM Steve Yzerman in the not-too-distant future, but if a deal cannot be reached, a trade is expected.
Why it Matters
Bertuzzi was expected to be one of Detroit's leading scorers in 2022-23, but he has been hampered by injuries, and when he has been able to play, he has not played well as he has just one goal on the season. Because of that, it seems like there is a solid chance that he is traded before the deadline. “That’s the business,” Bertuzzi told reporters earlier in the week. “We’ll see after the break how everything plays out.”
- Bertuzzi has been injured three times in 2022-23
- He has played in just 16 games
- Bertuzzi has scored just one goal in those 16 games
Bottom Line for Tyler Bertuzzi
It seems unlikely for Detroit to extend Bertuzzi's contract due to his underperforming play unless he is willing to take a team-friendly deal With the trade deadline approaching, it's probable that Yzerman will try to trade him to the team that presents the best offer.
