Tyler Bertuzzi joining Bruins’ rival on one-year, $5.5M deal
Tyler Bertuzzi found a new home in free agency that just so happens to be the Bruins’ rival.
According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the contract is worth $5.5 million and includes a no-movement clause and the maximum signing bonus.
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The Bruins acquired Bertuzzi at the 2022-23 NHL trade deadline and was a seamless fit. The forward was one of Boston’s best player in its ultimate first-round exit against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Bertuzzi amassed 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in seven games in his first-career playoff appearance.
In 21 regular season games for Boston, he scored 4 goals and notched 16 assists.
There was hope the Black and Gold could re-sign Bertuzzi, especially after they traded Taylor Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks to clear cap space. But free agency opened and the Bruins made several signings — including reuniting with Milan Lucic — and Bertuzzi was left unsigned at the end of Day 1.
B’s general manager Don Sweeney essentially closed the door on the organization re-signing Bertuzzi due to the term and salary he was seeking.
“It’s all the factors. The term that he’s rightfully probably earned. The AAV that he’s seeking. There are other teams in that may be in position to provide that we probably weren’t,” Sweeney told reporters Saturday. “He’s going to land in a really good spot for he and his family. We wish him luck. He was a great piece of our puzzle. We would dearly like to have brought him back and extended him.”
Bertuzzi now joins a Maple Leafs team that includes Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
