Tyler Bertuzzi Bio
Tyler Bertuzzi (born February 24, 1995) is a Canadian professional hockey player who plays as a left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 58th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL entry draft and has also played for the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Standing 183 cm tall and weighing 91 kg, Bertuzzi has built a reputation as a physical, scoring forward with a knack for going to the tough areas of the ice.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Bertuzzi was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, on February 24, 1995. He grew up in a hockey family that shaped his early love for the sport. His mother, Angela Bertuzzi, works as an educational assistant, while his father, Adrian Gedye, is a talent agent and businessman. Bertuzzi also has two brothers, Evan and Matthew Gedye, and his cousins Tag and Jaden Bertuzzi also play hockey. Tag Bertuzzi was selected second overall by the Guelph Storm in the 2017 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft, further highlighting the family’s deep ties to the game.
Bertuzzi is the nephew of former NHL player Todd Bertuzzi, which gave him an early connection to professional hockey and an understanding of the work required to reach the top level. Growing up in Sudbury, he was exposed to a strong Canadian hockey culture, and he developed the physical, competitive style that later became his trademark on the ice.
Path to Hockey
Bertuzzi was drafted by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in the fourth round, 78th overall, of the 2011 OHL entry draft. In his first full OHL season in 2011-12, he played 61 games for Guelph and scored six goals, while also recording six fights in his first nine games and earning a reputation as a tough, hard-nosed player. During the 2012-13 season, he registered 13 goals and nine assists in 43 games, although he missed significant time with shoulder, neck, and head injuries.
The 2013-14 season was difficult, as Bertuzzi played only 29 games due to the same head, neck, and shoulder injuries, finishing with 10 goals and 25 assists. He returned for the playoffs and helped Guelph capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions, posting 10 goals, seven assists, and a plus-24 rating in 18 games. Bertuzzi then led the 2014 Memorial Cup with five goals in four games, although Guelph lost in the final to the Edmonton Oil Kings. In his final junior season of 2014-15, he served as an assistant captain, led Guelph in scoring with 98 points in 68 games, and was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.
Tyler Bertuzzi Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Bertuzzi was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft, and signed a three-year entry-level contract on October 17, 2014. After finishing his junior season, he was assigned to Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he made his professional debut on April 17, 2015, against the Lake Erie Monsters and scored his first professional goal against goaltender Calvin Pickard. He went on to play 14 Calder Cup playoff games, recording seven goals and 12 points.
In 2015-16, Bertuzzi played 71 games with Grand Rapids, scoring 12 goals and 30 points, and added seven goals and eight points in nine playoff games. He began 2016-17 in the AHL but was recalled by the Red Wings on November 7, 2016, and made his NHL debut the next day in a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. After a brief return to the AHL, he finished 2016-17 with 12 goals and 25 assists in 48 regular-season games for Grand Rapids, and then dominated the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs with nine goals and 10 assists in 19 games to help the Griffins win the Calder Cup. His outstanding playoff performance earned him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, and he set a Griffins franchise record with 23 career playoff goals.
Detroit Red Wings Breakthrough (2017-2023)
Bertuzzi was recalled by Detroit in December 2017 and made his NHL season debut on December 9 in a 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He recorded his first NHL point by assisting on Justin Abdelkader’s goal on December 27, 2017, and scored his first NHL goal against Jeff Glass of the Chicago Blackhawks on January 14, 2018. He finished 2017-18 with seven goals and 17 assists in 48 NHL games, and on June 25, 2018, the Red Wings signed him to a two-year contract extension.
The 2018-19 season marked Bertuzzi’s true NHL breakthrough. He opened the season on Detroit’s top line and recorded his first career hat-trick against Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild on January 12, 2019. In late March and early April 2019, he registered three consecutive three-point games and then a fourth, becoming the first Red Wings player to record four straight three-point games in franchise history, a feat last matched by Steve Yzerman in 1992-93. He finished the season with 21 goals and 47 points in 73 games. In 2019-20, he was selected to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game and posted 21 goals and 48 points in 71 games before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract through salary arbitration in October 2020, but injuries limited him to nine games in 2020-21 before he underwent back surgery on April 30, 2021. He rebounded strongly in 2021-22 with 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games, including two four-point performances. Hand injuries hampered him in 2022-23, restricting him to 29 games with four goals and 10 assists before he was traded to the Boston Bruins on March 2, 2023.
Boston Bruins Era (2023)
On March 2, 2023, Bertuzzi was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft. He made his Bruins debut on March 4 on a line with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic, picking up an assist in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. He scored his first goal for Boston against Jake Allen on March 23 in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. In 21 regular-season games with the Bruins, Bertuzzi recorded four goals and 16 points.
The Bruins finished 2022-23 as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, won the Presidents’ Trophy with 135 points, and set an NHL record with 65 wins. Bertuzzi made his NHL playoff debut on April 17, 2023, against the Florida Panthers, recording two assists in a 3-1 Game 1 win. He scored his first NHL playoff goal in Game 2 and added two goals and an assist in Game 6. In a decisive Game 7, he scored a third-period power play goal, but Boston ultimately lost in overtime, blowing a 3-1 series lead. Bertuzzi finished the series with five goals and 10 points in seven games.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2023-2024)
On July 2, 2023, Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a top unrestricted free agent. He made his Toronto debut in a 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens on October 11, 2023, and scored his first goal for the Maple Leafs against Filip Gustavsson in a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild on October 14. Following the death of professional hockey player Adam Johnson from a skate-blade cut to the neck, Bertuzzi wore a neck guard in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 24, becoming the first active NHL player to do so since Johnson’s passing. He tied a career high with three assists in a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 16 and finished the regular season with 21 goals and 43 points in 80 games.
Toronto faced Bertuzzi’s former Boston team in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored his only goal of the series in Game 3 on April 24 in a 4-2 loss, and the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Bruins in seven games. Bertuzzi finished the series with one goal and four points.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2024-Present)
On July 1, 2024, Bertuzzi signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent, ending his brief stint in Toronto. The move to Chicago gave him a fresh opportunity to play a leading offensive role with a rebuilding team. His contract, worth $5.5 million per season, runs through the 2027-28 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bertuzzi is recognized as a physical, abrasive forward who excels at playing along the boards and in front of the net. He combines a heavy shot with strong puck-protection skills, allowing him to generate offense in tight spaces. He also has above-average playmaking ability, particularly when operating off the cycle or feeding linemates from the wall. While not the fastest skater, his straight-line power and willingness to engage physically make him a difficult matchup for opposing defensemen.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bertuzzi’s career came in late March and early April 2019, when he became the first Detroit player to record four consecutive three-point games since Steve Yzerman in 1992-93. His selection to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game and his Calder Cup MVP award with Grand Rapids in 2017 are also career milestones. His decision to wear a neck guard in November 2023 made him the first active NHL player to do so following the tragic death of Adam Johnson.
Tyler Bertuzzi International Play
Bertuzzi made his international debut with Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia, where he helped Canada reach the final before losing to Finland and earning a silver medal. He finished the tournament scoreless through five games.
Tyler Bertuzzi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tyler Bertuzzi comes from a deep hockey family. He is the nephew of former NHL player Todd Bertuzzi, and his cousins Tag and Jaden Bertuzzi also play the game. Tag Bertuzzi was selected second overall by the Guelph Storm in the 2017 OHL draft. His mother Angela Bertuzzi is an educational assistant, while his father Adrian Gedye works as a talent agent and businessman.
Personal Life
Bertuzzi has two brothers, Evan and Matthew Gedye. In September 2021, it was reported that Bertuzzi was not vaccinated against COVID-19, which prevented him from crossing the border to play games in Canada and cost him more than $450,000 of his $4.75 million salary for that year.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Bertuzzi enters the 2025 season as a key offensive contributor for the Chicago Blackhawks, the third NHL team of his professional career. After registering 21 goals and 43 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24, he will look to translate that production to a young, developing Blackhawks roster. With a multi-year contract running through 2027-28, he is expected to play a top-six forward role and provide veteran scoring touch.
The 2025 campaign will be an important showcase for Bertuzzi as he aims to prove he can produce as a primary option with a rebuilding franchise. Coming off a strong playoff performance with Toronto in 2024, he will be relied upon to lead by example and help mentor the Blackhawks’ emerging young talent. His physical, net-front style should remain a consistent feature of his game in Chicago.
Bertuzzi’s long-term deal provides stability, and his combination of scoring, playmaking, and toughness makes him a central figure in the Blackhawks’ rebuild. The 2025 season represents an opportunity to re-establish himself as a consistent point-per-game contributor and play a meaningful role in lifting Chicago back into playoff contention.