NHL Rumors: Tyler Bertuzzi, Blackhawks Agree to $22M Contract After Maple Leafs Exit

The Chicago Blackhawks reportedly landed some offensive talent in support of star forward Connor Bedard on Monday by agreeing to a free-agent contract with forward Tyler Bertuzzi.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period and TSN's Darren Dreger, Bertuzzi and the Blackhawks agreed to a four-year, $22 million contract ahead of the official opening of free agency at noon ET on Monday.

Last season the winger recorded 21 goals and 22 assists in 80 contests for the Toronto Maple Leafs on a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

After starting out the campaign on Toronto's top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Bertuzzi was bumped down to the second line to skate alongside John Tavares.

He ended up the season back on Matthews' line, this time opposite right winger Max Domi.

Bertuzzi took advantage of those top-line minutes to tie for the team postseason scoring lead with four points (one goal, three assists) during Toronto's seven-game loss to the Boston Bruins in the first round.

The former Detroit Red Wings forward may not have eclipsed 60 points since 2021-22 during his final full season in the Motor City, but Chicago has reason to believe he could bounce back this fall in a bigger role.

Bertuzzi's 2022-23 campaign was disrupted by a midseason trade, and he struggled to click with Toronto's forward group in 2023-24. The winger could get back on pace for another 30-goal season if he is able to find better chemistry with the Blackhawks this fall.

A 2013 second-round pick by the Red Wings, Bertuzzi made his NHL debut in 2016 and went on to spend five more seasons with Detroit.

The Red Wings traded his expiring contract to the Boston Bruins for their 2023 playoff push, after which Bertuzzi signed with the Leafs in free agency.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward will now add some size to the left wing depth chart in Chicago.

Bertuzzi also saw time on the Leafs' top power-play unit, ranking fifth on the team with five power-play goals during the regular season. He is likely to get the opportunity to play on the man advantage again this fall.

The Blackhawks have already been busy this offseason, adding to a roster that played to the second-worst record in the NHL last season.

Chicago previously acquired forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Lafferty in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, plus they selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft.

With all of those pieces coming in and Bedard likely taking another step forward in his development, Chicago should be far more competitive next season.