CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Bertuzzi joined Connor Bedard in Chicago on the first day of NHL free agency, agreeing to a four-year contract worth $22 million annually with the rebuilding Blackhawks on Monday.
A person familiar with the transaction confirmed the move to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by the team.
Chicago is looking to add personnel to the mix around Bedard after he was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's NHL draft and recorded 22 goals and 39 assists in his first season. Even with Bedard on the roster, the Blackhawks were the league's worst scoring team with 178 goals.
Bertuzzi, 29, will likely play as a left winger on one of the team's top two lines. He had 21 goals and 22 assists this season for Toronto, which was eliminated in seven games by Boston in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Bertuzzi was selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2013 draft and made his NHL debut with Detroit. His uncle, Todd, also played in the league for 18 years.
Tyler Bertuzzi has 113 goals and 148 assists in 406 career games and will play part of the 2022-23 season with Boston. He set career highs with 30 goals and 32 assists with Detroit in 2021-22.
Bertuzzi has appeared in 14 playoff games over the past two years, recording six goals and eight assists in the postseason.
AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
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