The Boston Bruins will have their forward depth tested given the recent “discouraging” updates involving Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. But Bruins general manager Don Sweeney certainly lessened that void as he parted with another first-round pick and acquired winger Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings.
Boston announced the trade Thursday morning before the Bruins officially extended David Pastrnak on an eight-year contract. The Black and Gold gave up a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick for Bertuzzi in another win-now move.Â
Sweeney did so with the expectation Bertuzzi will serve as an impactful complement to Boston’s current group.
“Yes, ideally we believe the interior play there and where he generally scorers his goals is going to be an advantage to us in, hopefully, where we’re going in the playoffs,” Sweeney told reporters at Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday, as seen on NESN.
“And yeah, I think he’s a player that we’ve watched extensively. He’s motivated,” Sweeney said. “He hasn’t had the opportunity to play in the playoffs and going to come in eager to complement our group.”
The 28-year-old Bertuzzi is viewed as both an agitator and a playmaking forward. He’s been limited to just 14 points in 29 games this season, an injury-plagued campaign, but has been far more productive in the past. Bertuzzi compiled 30 goals last season and had three campaigns of 20-plus goals in Detroit.
“I think he’s someone who understands how to win,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters Thursday, per Boston.com’s Conor Ryan. “He’s a great complementary winger.”
Montgomery also made reference to Bertuzzi’s tenacity and toughness.
“He’s got a lot of sandpaper to him, as Bruins fans will know from his altercation with our other sandpaper guy,” Montgomery told reporters, per 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson, referencing a Bertuzzi-started scrap with Brad Marchand in 2018.
Bertuzzi is in the final year of his contract and carries a $4.75 million cap hit, though the Red Wings will retain half of the salary. Nevertheless, it makes Sweeney’s move all the more notable given Bertuzzi is a rental, especially after the Bruins parted with a first-rounder in last week’s trade for defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway.
Bertuzzi is slated to travel to Boston on Thursday night and will not play against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden. Puck drop for Bruins-Sabres is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch it live on NESN after an hour of pregame coverage.
