Bertuzzi, who is a physical forward with scoring abilities, is 28 years old and is a pending free agent, which means he is likely a rental for the Bruins. Although he has struggled with injuries this year, he had an impressive career-high of 30 goals and 62 points in 60 games last season.
With his untapped scoring potential and his reputation as one of the league's best pests, the Boston Bruins have just added a massive piece to their team identity and roster.
The Detroit Red Wings, who recently extended their captain Dylan Larkin and traded Filip Hronek, seem to be pivoting their rebuild on the fly. Bertuzzi is a younger player who the team could have re-signed, but they decided to trade him for a decent return. In exchange for Bertuzzi, the Red Wings will receive a protected first-round draft pick in 2024 and a fourth-round draft pick in 2025.
This is the second big addition for the Bruins within a week, after acquiring Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway. It seems that they are loading up to face an unprecedentedly strong Eastern Conference in the playoffs this year.