Tyler Bertuzzi expected to join Blackhawks on 4-year deal: Sources

By Pierre LeBrun, Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers

Free-agent forward Tyler Bertuzzi is expected to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks when the market opens Monday for four years at a $5.5 million annual average value, league sources said.

Bertuzzi, 29, had 21 goals and 22 assists in 80 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Chicago will be his fourth team in three seasons; the longtime Detroit Red Wings forward was traded to the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season, then signed with the Leafs on a one-year deal last summer.

Bertuzzi was the No. 26 player available entering free agency, according to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.

Free agency begins at noon ET on Monday.

Where does Bertuzzi fit?

After two straight years in the league’s bottom three, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said this spring that it was time for the team to start taking actual steps toward being competitive. While Bertuzzi isn’t nearly as flashy a signing as Jake Guentzel or Steven Stamkos, he’s certainly a significant upgrade in the Blackhawks’ top six. With Taylor Hall working his way back from knee surgery, Bertuzzi could slot right in as Connor Bedard’s left wing, with Philipp Kurashev keeping his spot on the right side after showing strong chemistry with the rookie last season.

Bertuzzi is just two seasons removed from a 30-goal campaign in Detroit, and had 43 points with the Maple Leafs last season despite being on the second unit and fifth among Toronto forwards in power-play ice time. With Chicago, he’ll get a chance to play a much larger role at both five-on-five and on the power play. He also brings a little snarl to his game and can work the net front, something the Blackhawks need. — Mark Lazerus, senior NHL writer

Davidson had been holding firm to one-, two-year deals for players outside the organization. Even inside it, until Alex Vlasic recently signed a six-year deal, the only contracts longer than two years Davidson had been handing out were entry-level deals. So for Davidson to give Bertuzzi is a big deal.

There had been whispers the Blackhawks would be willing to sign someone to a longer-than-usual contract this free agency, but it was always going to be a tight rope for Davidson. He didn’t want to give up too much term, especially with a massive cap hit. His thing has always been not to derail the rebuild too early with a contract that would greatly depreciate with time. Bertuzzi’s deal is probably the sweet spot for the Blackhawks. They get a player for long enough to where they can still project his performance. He should still be impactful at the end of his contract. The value is probably higher than what Bertuzzi would get on the open market, but the Blackhawks have the cap space to afford it, and it’ll come off the books as they potentially have younger players to sign. — Scott Powers, Blackhawks senior writer

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(Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)