Red Wings trade Tyler Bertuzzi to Boston for first-, fourth-round picks

The Detroit Red Wings have traded forward Tyler Bertuzzi to the Boston Bruins for a 2024 protected first-round pick and 2025 fourth-round selection.

Bertuzzi, 28, is in the final year of his contract and negotiations on an extension never gained traction.

Bertuzzi’s trade value diminished during an injury-plagued season in which he’s missed a total of 29 games on separate occasions with broken left and right hands. It has clearly affected his play; he has only four goals and 14 points in 29 games and a minus-12 rating that was worst among the club’s forwards.

This is the second first-round pick general manager Steve Yzerman has acquired over the past two days. He traded defenseman Filip Hronek to Vancouver Wednesday for a protected 2023 first-rounder.

Bertuzzi, 28, once was a core player on a rebuilding team, with a coveted blend of skill and grit. He scored 21 goals in back-to-back seasons and had a career year in 2021-22 with 30 goals and 62 points.

While he hasn’t appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game, his knack for going to the hard areas (corners, net front) and getting involved physically is suited for the postseason.

Bertuzzi was the Red Wings’ most prominent trading chip. Other pending unrestricted free agents who might draw interest prior to Friday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline include center Pius Suter, winger Oskar Sundqvist and defenseman Robert Hagg. Defensemen Olli Maatta (two years/$6 million) and Jake Walman (three years/$10.2 million) are off the market after signing extensions recently.

Yzerman would like to move forward Jakub Vrana, who has no points in three games since being recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins. But he has one year remaining at $5.25 million and the Red Wings would need to retain a significant amount of salary.

Filip Zadina, the No. 6 overall pick in 2018 who has not established himself in the NHL, might be available for a team that still believes he has potential as a goal-scorer. But the two years remaining on his contract at a $1.825 million average annual value, coupled with his lack of production (two goals, four points in 19 games) would limit the return.

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