Tyler Bertuzzi has hit the ground running in the NHL, and he is not taking his foot off of the gas pedal, proving to be one of the more underrated forwards in the league. His style of play is why he, and not captain Dylan Larkin, is the true leader of the Detroit Red Wings.
Drafted 58th overall in round two of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Red Wings, Bertuzzi has grown into an NHL star. The 6-foot-1 and 198-pound left-winger plays with recklessness and that is what makes him stand out.
Bertuzzi has many attributes to his game that make him a complete player. He is aggressive on the puck, plays a physical game, produces offense to the tune of a point per game, is good on the cycle and in front of the net, and not to mention, he blocks shots as well.
As an underrated goal scorer, Bertuzzi finds his way to open positions, which means when he is out there, the puck is on his stick, and he is creating chances. Besides being an offensive wizard, he also makes life miserable for the opposition with his trash talk and hard-nosed play.
Bertuzzi is coming into his own in Detroit.
This season he continues to grow his all-around game. Bertuzzi has produced 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points, 39 penalty minutes, and a +12 in 43 games.
Bertuzzi made a name for himself playing with Larkin and former teammate Anthony Mantha on the top line. The line took off and was one of the best lines in hockey. The production was coming game after game until the line was split up after Mantha was traded.
This year he and Larkin were joined on the top line with rookie Lucas Raymond and produced the same results. Lines were split up by coach Jeff Balshill and Bertuzzi was placed on the Guelph Storm line with Pius Suter and Robby Fabbri. That line too has exploded in offense and remains one of the better, consistent lines on the Red Wings.
Bertuzzi is a top-flight winger and can produce regardless of who he is playing with. He is an All-Star in more ways than one and never takes a shift off.
Bertuzzi is quietly becoming a force to be reckoned with around the league and one to watch as the Red Wings make a playoff push in the 2021-22 season.