Tyler Bertuzzi
Tyler Bertuzzi (born February 24, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1][2]
Drafted in the second round, 58th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Bertuzzi debuted with the Red Wings in 2016, later playing for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and signing a four-year, $22 million contract with the Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024.[1][3][4]
In 496 NHL games across his career as of the 2025–26 season, he has recorded 138 goals and 175 assists for 313 points, establishing himself as a power forward known for physical play and agitation.[1][5]
Bertuzzi's notable achievements include selection to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as American Hockey League playoff MVP in 2017 with the Grand Rapids Griffins—where he set a team record with 23 playoff goals—and earning OHL Second All-Star Team honors in 2015.[1]
His aggressive style has led to multiple suspensions, including two games in 2018 for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, and he drew attention for being the NHL's only unvaccinated player during the COVID-19 era, barring him from games in Canada.[6][7]
Early life and background
Family and upbringing
Tyler Bertuzzi was born on February 24, 1995, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, to Angela Bertuzzi, an educational assistant, and Adrian Gedye, a businessman.[8][9] His parents, both Ontario natives, divorced in 2020 after raising him primarily in Sudbury.[8] Bertuzzi grew up with two younger brothers, Evan and Matthew Gedye, in a household immersed in hockey culture.[10][11] His uncle, Todd Bertuzzi—a former NHL enforcer and power forward—is the brother of his mother Angela, providing a direct family link to professional hockey that influenced Tyler's early aspirations.[9][12] Cousins Tag and Jaden Bertuzzi, sons of Todd, also pursued competitive hockey, reinforcing the sport's centrality in the extended family.[8] From age four, Bertuzzi skated on Sudbury's outdoor rinks and lakes, including McCharles Lake near his hometown, fostering his passion amid the region's harsh winters and mining-town grit.[11] This environment, combined with familial guidance from Todd—who offered advice on organizations like the Detroit Red Wings—shaped his development, though Tyler adopted his mother's surname despite his brothers using their father's.[11][9]Entry into hockey
Tyler Bertuzzi, born on February 24, 1995, in Sudbury, Ontario, began skating at the age of four, developing an early passion for hockey through informal play on the city's outdoor rinks during his childhood winters.[11] This foundational exposure to the sport in his northern Ontario hometown laid the groundwork for his competitive pursuits, as Sudbury's harsh climate and community rink culture fostered resilient, hands-on skill-building among local youth.[11] Bertuzzi progressed into organized minor hockey via the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association (MHA), where he participated in house league and representative teams, emphasizing physical play and endurance suited to the region's triple-A pathways.[3] By his early teens, his aggressive style and work ethic had caught scouts' attention, positioning him for junior eligibility, though specific peewee or bantam team affiliations remain less documented beyond local association records. This entry phase mirrored typical trajectories for Ontario prospects, prioritizing regional development over early elite academies.[3]Junior and developmental career
Ontario Hockey League
Bertuzzi commenced his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career with the Guelph Storm, selected in the fourth round, 78th overall, in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation">| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Guelph Storm | 61 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 117 | +2 |
| 2012–13 | Guelph Storm | 43 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 68 | –2 |
| 2013–14 | Guelph Storm | 29 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 49 | +9 |
| 2014–15 | Guelph Storm | 68 | 43 | 55 | 98 | 91 | +26 |
American Hockey League
Bertuzzi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings on March 19, 2014, following his junior career, and was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, for the remainder of the 2014–15 season. He made his professional debut on April 11, 2015, appearing in two regular-season games and recording one assist while accumulating zero penalty minutes.[13] In the 2015–16 season, Bertuzzi transitioned to a full-time AHL role with the Griffins, playing 71 games and posting 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points, alongside 133 penalty minutes, which highlighted his aggressive, physical presence on the ice.[3] His performance demonstrated growth in offensive contributions while maintaining a high-energy style that often led to penalties but also disrupted opponents.[14] Bertuzzi's most notable AHL season came in 2016–17, where he skated in 48 regular-season games for the Griffins, accumulating 12 goals, 25 assists, and 37 points with 37 penalty minutes.[13] He excelled in the Calder Cup playoffs, leading the team with 10 goals and adding nine assists for 19 points over 21 games, earning recognition as a key factor in Grand Rapids' championship run; the Griffins defeated the Syracuse Crunch 4–2 in the finals on June 17, 2017, to claim the Calder Cup.[1] Returning briefly to the AHL in 2017–18 amid NHL transitions, Bertuzzi played 16 games with the Griffins, scoring seven goals and seven assists for 14 points and 34 penalty minutes before a permanent recall.[14] Over his entire AHL tenure with Grand Rapids, spanning 137 games, he totaled 32 goals, 50 assists, 82 points, and 204 penalty minutes, underscoring his development as a power forward capable of playoff impact.[13]Professional career
Detroit Red Wings era (2014–2023)
Bertuzzi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings on October 17, 2014, following his selection in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[15] During the 2014–15 season, he remained with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, recording 54 points in 57 games.[13] He transitioned to professional hockey in 2015–16, joining the Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he posted 12 goals and 18 assists in 71 regular-season games.[3] In 2016–17, Bertuzzi excelled with the Griffins, tallying 12 goals and 25 assists in 48 regular-season games, then led the playoffs with 10 goals and nine assists in 19 games en route to the Calder Cup championship, earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP.[1] He made his NHL debut with Detroit on November 8, 2016, appearing in seven games without recording a point.[5] The following season, 2017–18, Bertuzzi established himself in the NHL, scoring seven goals and 17 assists in 48 games after a December recall from Grand Rapids.[5] On June 25, 2018, he signed a two-year, $2.8 million extension with the Red Wings.[16] Bertuzzi's performance peaked in subsequent seasons, as detailed in the following NHL regular-season statistics with Detroit:| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | 48 | 7 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 39 |
| 2018–19 | 73 | 21 | 26 | 47 | 11 | 36 |
| 2019–20 | 71 | 21 | 27 | 48 | -23 | 40 |
| 2020–21 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 2021–22 | 68 | 30 | 32 | 62 | -11 | 47 |
| 2022–23 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -12 | 23 |
Trade to Boston Bruins and brief stint (2023)
On March 2, 2023, the Boston Bruins acquired forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (top-10 protected) and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.[19][1] The trade occurred ahead of the NHL trade deadline, with the Bruins seeking to bolster their top-six forward depth and physical play amid a dominant regular season.[20] Bertuzzi, who had recorded 11 goals and 14 assists in 52 games with Detroit that season, was assigned jersey number 59 upon joining Boston.[21] Bertuzzi quickly integrated into the Bruins' lineup, providing secondary scoring and agitation on the wing, often paired with linemates like David Pastrňák and Pavel Zacha.[22] In 21 regular-season games with Boston, he tallied 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points, posting a +4 plus-minus rating while contributing to the team's record-setting 135-point campaign and Presidents' Trophy win.[23] His physical style, including 24 penalty minutes, aligned with the Bruins' identity, as evidenced by hits and forechecking that generated scoring chances.[24] In the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bertuzzi made his postseason debut as the top-seeded Bruins faced the Florida Panthers in the first round. He recorded multiple assists in Game 1, including a primary assist on Pastrňák's power-play goal, and demonstrated tenacity with physical plays and puck battles.[25] Over the seven-game series, which Boston lost 4-3 despite leading 3-1, Bertuzzi contributed offensively with goals and assists, including standout efforts such as two goals and an assist in Game 6.[26] His performance highlighted shot volume and primary point generation at even strength, though the Bruins' overall series collapse overshadowed individual outputs. Bertuzzi became an unrestricted free agent following the playoffs. The Bruins pursued a multi-year extension but were unable to reach terms, as Bertuzzi prioritized a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs signed on July 1, 2023, to enhance his market value.[27][28] This brief tenure marked his only appearance with Boston, where he added 16 regular-season points and playoff production but departed without a long-term commitment.[24]Toronto Maple Leafs tenure (2023–2024)
Bertuzzi signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $5.5 million on July 2, 2023, following his brief stint with the Boston Bruins.[29] [30] The deal included a no-movement clause and positioned him as a potential top-six winger expected to provide physicality and secondary scoring alongside stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.[31] In the 2023–24 regular season, Bertuzzi played 80 games for Toronto, registering 21 goals, 22 assists, and 43 points with a +2 plus/minus rating and 53 penalty minutes.[32] [33] His production started slowly amid line adjustments and recovery from prior injuries, but he accelerated in the latter half, reaching 20 goals for the first time in his career on April 2, 2024, against the Florida Panthers and earning NHL Second Star of the Week honors for the period ending April 1 with three goals and four assists.[29] He primarily operated on the top line, contributing physical forechecking and net-front presence, though his 0.54 points-per-game rate fell short of elite expectations for the cap hit.[34] The Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs as the Atlantic Division's third seed, facing the Boston Bruins in the first round and losing in seven games. Bertuzzi appeared in all seven contests, recording no goals and one assist while logging limited ice time averaging around 13 minutes per game, with his physical style evident in hits and battles along the boards but limited offensive impact.[34] [1] As an unrestricted free agent entering July 1, 2024, Bertuzzi did not re-sign with Toronto, as his demands for a multi-year extension exceeding $5 million annually outpaced the team's cap constraints and roster priorities.[35] He instead agreed to a four-year, $22 million pact with the Chicago Blackhawks, seeking greater term security and opportunity on a rebuilding squad.[36]Chicago Blackhawks signing and current role (2024–present)
On July 1, 2024, Bertuzzi signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent, valued at $22 million with an average annual value of $5.5 million.[37][4] The deal aimed to add veteran scoring depth and physical presence to the Blackhawks' forward corps, particularly to support emerging talents in a rebuilding roster.[38] Bertuzzi has primarily served as a top-six left winger, leveraging his agitating style and net-front capabilities to create offensive chances while providing secondary scoring.[1] His role emphasizes driving play at even strength and contributing on the power play, though his defensive metrics have drawn scrutiny amid the team's overall struggles.[39] In the 2024–25 season, Bertuzzi appeared in all 82 games, recording 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points, marking a rebound from prior injury-limited years but offset by a team-worst minus-39 rating that highlighted underlying puck-possession issues.[40] Early in the 2025–26 campaign, he has shown offensive promise, notching multiple assists in initial outings and building on his goal-scoring output from the prior year.[2] Analysts view him as a potential x-factor for Chicago's top line, contingent on sustaining consistency beyond streaky tendencies observed in past seasons.[41]International representation
Team Canada appearances
Bertuzzi represented Team Canada at the senior level for the first time at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Košice, Slovakia, from May 10 to 26.[42] He was added to the roster on April 29, 2019, as one of the forwards selected from NHL clubs.[43] In five tournament games, Bertuzzi recorded zero goals and zero assists, with one penalty minute and three shots on goal.[44] Team Canada advanced to the gold medal game but lost 3–1 to Finland, earning the silver medal; this marked Bertuzzi's sole appearance in IIHF senior international competition as of 2025.[42][45]Playing style and on-ice impact
Strengths and contributions
Bertuzzi excels as a physical, gritty forward renowned for his relentless forechecking and ability to win puck battles along the boards and in high-traffic areas. His style emphasizes driving to the net, absorbing punishment to create scoring chances, and disrupting opponents through aggressive body checking and positioning.[46][47] This tenacity makes him a reliable middle-six contributor who elevates team play in contested zones, often generating secondary scoring opportunities through deflections, rebounds, and tip-ins.[48] In his breakout 2021–22 season with the Detroit Red Wings, Bertuzzi reached career highs of 30 goals and 62 points, demonstrating his shooting accuracy and opportunistic finishing, particularly on the power play where he tallied 14 points.[49] He contributed significantly to playoff efforts, including 10 points (five goals, five assists) during the Boston Bruins' 2023 postseason run, showcasing his effectiveness in elevated competition.[29] With the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023–24, he notched a hat trick on February 24, 2024, against the Utah Hockey Club, highlighting his burst scoring potential and net-front persistence during a four-game road trip where the team outscored opponents 21–11. Bertuzzi's competitiveness and willingness to "get his nose dirty" every night have made him a valuable agitator and energy player, positively impacting expected goal shares at even strength across teams like the Bruins and Maple Leafs.[50][51] In Chicago, his pairing with Connor Bedard has amplified these traits, fostering chemistry through physical net presence and power-play involvement, where he scored 10 of his 23 goals in 2024–25.[46][52]Criticisms and physical play
Bertuzzi's playing style emphasizes physicality and aggression, often engaging in battles along the boards and in front of the net to create space and disrupt opponents.[53] This approach, inherited in part from his uncle Todd Bertuzzi's enforcer reputation, includes willingness to deliver hard hits and occasionally drop the gloves, though he has reduced fighting frequency over time.[54] His tenacity contributes to offensive production through puck battles and net-front presence, but it has drawn scrutiny for bordering on recklessness.[55] Critics have pointed to Bertuzzi's physical play as leading to undisciplined penalties and ejections that harm his teams. On December 2, 2018, he punched Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Calvert from the Red Wings' bench during a game, resulting in a two-game NHL suspension for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct.[6] [56] More recently, on December 29, 2024, while with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bertuzzi was ejected for a five-minute major penalty after elbowing former teammate Colin Blackwell in the head during a game against the Dallas Stars; the incident's follow-through struck Blackwell's head, prompting a league review for potential further discipline.[57] These events have fueled arguments that his aggressive edge sometimes overrides hockey IQ, contributing to power-play disadvantages and team setbacks.[58] Despite these incidents, Bertuzzi maintains that his physicality is integral to his role as a middle-six forward, balancing it with smarter decisions to mitigate injury risks from sustained aggression.[59] Analysts note that while his style yields hits and forechecking pressure—averaging around 1.5 hits per game in recent seasons—it has occasionally amplified perceptions of him as prone to emotional outbursts rather than consistent contributors.[60] No long-term suspensions have resulted from these actions, distinguishing his record from more severe enforcer precedents.[61]Controversies and disciplinary issues
Suspensions and ejections
On December 2, 2018, during a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche, Bertuzzi, seated on the bench, reached over the dasher board and punched Avalanche forward Matt Calvert in the head while Calvert was engaged along the boards.[6] The NHL Department of Player Safety reviewed the incident and suspended Bertuzzi for two games without pay for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, citing the premeditated nature of the bare-knuckle strike to Calvert's head as primary factors.[62] This marked Bertuzzi's first and, to date, only NHL suspension.[63] On December 29, 2024, while playing for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Dallas Stars, Bertuzzi delivered a spinning backhand elbow to the head of Stars forward Colin Blackwell during a second-period board battle.[64] Officials assessed a five-minute major penalty for elbowing, upgraded after video review, along with a game misconduct, resulting in his ejection from the contest.[65] The NHL Department of Player Safety examined the play for potential supplemental discipline but issued no further suspension.[66]Vaccination status and public backlash
In September 2021, Tyler Bertuzzi was the only unvaccinated player on the Detroit Red Wings roster entering training camp, one of an estimated 10-15 holdouts league-wide amid the NHL's vaccination protocols.[67][68] He publicly described refusing the COVID-19 vaccine as a "personal choice, freedom of choice, and a life choice," emphasizing his adherence to enhanced testing and quarantine rules for unvaccinated players.[69] This stance barred him from entering Canada, resulting in Bertuzzi missing all nine Red Wings games against Canadian opponents during the 2021-22 regular season and forfeiting roughly $400,000 in salary.[70][71] Bertuzzi's position drew on-ice taunting, including a December 19, 2021, incident where New Jersey Devils enforcer Mason Geertsen chirped him to "go get vaccinated" following a whistle during a game.[72] Off the ice, local media and radio personalities criticized the decision; Detroit sports radio host Mike Valenti publicly called out Bertuzzi for not complying, arguing it burdened teammates with stricter protocols.[69] Sentiment in his Sudbury, Ontario, hometown included accusations of tarnishing local pride, with some residents viewing the refusal as a financial and reputational hit amid broader Canadian vaccine mandates.[69] Even after contracting COVID-19 in December 2021, Bertuzzi affirmed he would not alter his stance, citing the infection as reinforcing his position rather than prompting vaccination.[70] His holdout was later cited as a factor potentially depressing trade value when the Red Wings dealt him to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 2, 2023, though general manager Steve Yzerman had supported the choice as personal.[73][74] Canada's federal decision to lift COVID-19 entry requirements on September 1, 2022, resolved cross-border travel barriers for unvaccinated individuals like Bertuzzi.[71] Reports as recent as October 2023 have described him as remaining unvaccinated, the lone such active NHL player, though league mandates ended after 2021-22.[7]Personal life
Marriage and family
Tyler Bertuzzi married Ashley Greasley in the summer of 2023, following their engagement announced in January 2020.[75][76] The couple, who met while attending college, had been dating since around 2010, as evidenced by early photos shared publicly.[77][76] They have three children together. Their first child, daughter Kinsley Lea Bertuzzi, was born on November 11, 2022.[77] Their second child, son Wilder, arrived in January 2024.[78] Their third child, son Oakes Bradley Bertuzzi, was born on September 23, 2025.[78]Off-ice interests and residence
Bertuzzi and his wife, Ashley, purchased a six-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot newly built house in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood for $2.3 million in August 2024, serving as their primary residence during the NHL season with the Blackhawks.[79] He maintains ties to his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario, where he grew up and likely spends off-seasons with family.[80] Among his off-ice interests, Bertuzzi annually donates his hair to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit providing custom hairpieces to children experiencing medical hair loss, a practice he began at least as early as 2022 during his time with the Detroit Red Wings and continued through his tenures with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks.[81] He has cited personal inspiration for this commitment, arranging donations via a stylist in Michigan.[82] Bertuzzi enjoys outdoor pursuits, including fishing—a hobby introduced by his father in Sudbury, where he targeted species like smallmouth bass and walleye on local lakes and the Vermilion River.[83] He favors bass for catching and walleye for eating, prefers spinning gear with lures like the X-Rap, and has fished in locations such as Lake St. Clair in Michigan and Lake Michigan near Chicago; in September 2023, he filmed an episode of Angler & Hunter Television, landing 10 salmon exceeding 15 pounds each.[83] His fishing aspirations include fly-in trips in areas like Thunder Bay and fly fishing in Wyoming or Colorado.[83] Additionally, he participates in snowmobiling, recently obtained a hunting license, and is interested in bow hunting.[83] Bertuzzi also plays golf recreationally, describing it as a relaxing outdoor alternative to hockey, and listens to country music, naming artists like Luke Combs among his favorites.[80]Career statistics and achievements
NHL regular season and playoffs
Bertuzzi made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2016–17 season, appearing in seven games without recording a point.[1] He established himself as a regular the following year, posting 24 points in 48 games in 2017–18, followed by career-best goal totals of 21 in both 2018–19 and 2019–20, when he was selected for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.[1] His peak regular-season performance came in 2021–22 with Detroit, where he scored 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games despite the team's struggles.[1] After a trade to the Boston Bruins at the 2023 trade deadline, Bertuzzi split time between Detroit and Boston that season, then signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2023–24, tallying 43 points in 80 games.[1] He joined the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2024, via a four-year contract, where he recorded 46 points in 82 games during the 2024–25 season amid the team's rebuilding phase.[37] Through the early 2025–26 season, Bertuzzi has added six points in eight games with Chicago.[1]| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Detroit Red Wings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Detroit Red Wings | 48 | 7 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 39 |
| 2018–19 | Detroit Red Wings | 73 | 21 | 26 | 47 | +11 | 36 |
| 2019–20 | Detroit Red Wings | 71 | 21 | 27 | 48 | -23 | 40 |
| 2020–21 | Detroit Red Wings | 9 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 2021–22 | Detroit Red Wings | 68 | 30 | 32 | 62 | -11 | 47 |
| 2022–23 | Detroit Red Wings | 29 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -12 | 23 |
| 2022–23 | Boston Bruins | 21 | 4 | 12 | 16 | +4 | 6 |
| 2023–24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 21 | 22 | 43 | +2 | 53 |
| 2024–25 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 23 | 23 | 46 | -39 | 51 |
| 2025–26* | Chicago Blackhawks | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 496 | 138 | 175 | 313 | -76 | 301 |
International and minor league stats
Bertuzzi represented Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, where he appeared in 5 games, recording 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 0 penalty minutes, and a +1 plus-minus rating.[3] In the American Hockey League (AHL), Bertuzzi played exclusively for the Grand Rapids Griffins, affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, from 2014 to 2018. His regular-season statistics are as follows:| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | 71 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 133 |
| 2016–17 | 48 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 37 |
| 2017–18 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 34 |