The Boston Bruins have made another significant move, acquiring winger Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a protected 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The Red Wings will retain 50% of Bertuzzi's salary, according to the Bruins. Bertuzzi is on the final year of his contract and has a $4.75 million cap hit.
Bertuzzi, 28, is a 6-foot-1, 186-pound left shot who can play either left or right wing. He has four goals and 10 assists in 29 games this season in a year that has been plagued by injury.
He is believed to be healthy now, though, and he had 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) in 68 games last season. His career-low 6.5% shooting percentage is bound to bounce back as well. In addition to being a capable scorer who can play in the Bruins' top nine, Bertuzzi also brings an edge as an agitator who can get under opponents' skin.
The Bruins may have been looking for someone like Bertuzzi anyways, but recent injuries to Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno may have increased the urgency for Don Sweeney to acquire another winger. TSN's Darren Dreger suggests that was in fact a factor.
It is unclear as of Thursday morning if either Hall or Foligno will end up on long-term injured reserve. An update on their status is expected in the next day or two.
UPDATE: Hall has been placed on LTIR, and Foligno has been placed on regular IR. Read more about their statuses here:
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