The Red Wings have a small gap to bridge with All-Star forward Tyler Bertuzzi ahead of an arbitration hearing scheduled for Sunday.
In the initial numbers presented on Friday, the Red Wings offered a salary of $3.15 million, while Bertuzzi's camp requested $4.25 million, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Arbitration filing for Tyler Bertuzzi (DET): Team is $3.15M; player is $4.25M.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 23, 2020
Bertuzzi, 25, has scored 21 goals each of the past two seasons. He ranks second on the Red Wings in goals, assists (53) and points (95) over that span, trailing Dylan Larkin.
A second-round pick in 2013, Bertuzzi has become one of the core pieces of Detroit's rebuild. General manager Steve Yzerman has every intention of re-signing him, along with fellow restricted free agent Anthony Mantha.
"We'll sign Anthony and Tyler. I'm pretty certain we'll get them signed," Yzerman said this month. "It's (just) a question, is it one year, is it five years, is it four years?"
Bertuzzi's ask is a fair one, maybe even a generous one given the general cost of 20-goal scorers in the NHL. He'll likely get what he's seeking if the case does go to arbitration.
Or Yzerman and the Red Wings will find a deal that works before Sunday's deadline.
