The name is familiar, the game is not.
Some in the Detroit Red Wings organization parallel left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi to pesky Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw. Other hockey people look upon Bertuzzi and see a similar game to that of St. Louis Blues agitating center Steve Ott.
What’s abundantly clear is that the 6-1, 190-pound Bertuzzi isn’t cut from the same cloth as his more famous uncle, ex-Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi.
While Todd could intimidate with his towering size, that’s not the case for Tyler, who makes his mark by outworking the opposition and by sticking to what he does best between the boards.
“I feel like when I’m really playing my game, I’m grinding down low,… said Bertuzzi, in this fourth season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. “I just stick with my game. I don’t try and score goals. I take the body and work down low."
He may not try to score, but Bertuzzi clearly knows how to score. He is the reigning OHL player of the week after putting up 2-6-8 numbers in three games for the Storm last week, including a seven-point outburst in a 9-4 win over the London Knights. He is the club’s leading scorer with 8-15-23 numbers through 18 games and in true Bertuzzi fashion, his 38 penalty minutes are second on the team to the 41 garnered by defenceman Phil Baltisberger.
The Wings selected Bertuzzi 58th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft with an extra second-round pick garnered from the San Jose Sharks when they exchanged first-round picks with the Sharks. They signed him to a three-year entry-level deal worth $2.02 million last month.
“We’re pretty excited our scouts made the decision to draft Tyler where we got him,… Detroit general manager Ken Holland said.
Bertuzzi, 19, suffered a concussion in a fight last season, but returned from the injury in time to play a starring role as the Storm rolled to the OHL title before falling to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Memorial Cup final. Bertuzzi collected 10-7-17 totals in 18 playoff games and followed up by leading all shooters with five goals in four Memorial Cup tournament games.
“He’s a high-intensity, Steve Ott type of player,… said Storm GM Mike Kelly, who also drafted Todd Bertuzzi into the OHL. “An Energizer Bunny. A lot different than Todd.…
Jiri Fischer, Detroit’s director of player development, has watched Bertuzzi more than anyone in the organization and feels they’ve got a winner on their hands.
“He is very unique,… Fischer said. “He’s all about winning. He really cares about his team, his teammates. His compete level is very high, he has good hockey sense. He’s very tenacious. He does everything he can for the team to win. He’s very loyal and has plenty of skills.
“He has more skill than he showed in Traverse City in the prospects tournament and he knows he has to work on speed and leg strength.…
Holland believes all of those facets will evolve with time and maturity and is confident it will all come together for Bertuzzi as he enters the pro ranks next season.
“His skating needs to improve,… Holland said. “Part of that comes from getting older and stronger. Part of it comes from the gym.
“He has good hands and the ability to score. He’s gritty, competitive, and has an edginess. He goes to the hard areas.…
On The Wings Of Tomorrow is a periodic look at prospects in the Detroit system.
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