Matthew Tkachuk and Tyler Bertuzzi on the same line could provide the Florida Panthers with a lethal combination of skill and physicality not seen in decades. It could actually become a reality, as Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland reports the Panthers are among the teams who will pursue Bertuzzi if he hits the open market on July 1.
Let’s be clear – Bertuzzi becoming an unrestricted free agent is not a given. After clearing $6MM in cap space yesterday by trading away Taylor Hall, the Boston Bruins have some room, albeit temporarily, to work out an extension with Bertuzzi. It’s something they’re expected to at least take a run at accomplishing over the next few days.
The cap situation in Boston is still extremely tight, though, and they’ll need to make more salary-clearing moves after a hypothetical Bertuzzi extension to re-sign Jeremy Swayman and fill out the rest of their forward core. It seems unlikely they’d be able to figure out a multi-step plan to make all that happen in a matter of days before UFA signing season opens.
Even then, Bertuzzi will likely be able to find more money elsewhere, and Florida now has some to spend. The expiring contract of Patric Hornqvist, a reduced Keith Yandle buyout cap hit, and roughly $10MM worth of LTIR candidates to start the season have given them a major amount of flexibility entering the free agency period. While their first priority will be adding on defense to buoy them while Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour miss the start of the season, there is still an opportunity for them to add another offensive piece if they play their financial cards right.
Florida saw what Bertuzzi can accomplish first-hand this season. He led the Bruins in scoring during their seven-game First Round loss against the Panthers, notching five goals and 10 points while averaging nearly 18 minutes per game. He certainly won’t come cheap as a bonafide top-six winger, though his concerning injury history likely brings down his cap hit slightly on the open market.
Why? They have enough injured players.
Florida signing Bertuzzi might work out twice as nice for Boston. A) Keeps Boston from signing a bad contract with him, B) Fills up Florida’s cap space for a guy who likely won’t be producing at his Bruins pace in the future.
Yeah. I’d rather have Taylor Hall for $6 MM than Bertuzzi for the same amount, and after the playoffs someone will be numb enough to give Bertuzzi not only more AAV than that but term to boot.
Because look at the actual numbers. With reports that his hands were significantly injured last season, his shooting percentage was half his career average. He’s never been as big a hitter as his reputation holds. His ATOI is pedestrian. He played well for the Bruins in limited action last year, but not well enough for the payoff someone will give him. I’d be content enough if Florida was the team to do it.
His contract is about to be Lucic 2.0
And the worst part is he comes nowhere close to being peak Lucic. Teams are going to think that’s what they’re paying for but the reality is he has never been that player.
“Matthew Tkachuk and Tyler Bertuzzi on the same line could provide the Florida Panthers with a lethal combination of skill and physicality not seen in decades.”
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Bertuzzi will go to the dirty areas but he isn’t all that physical at all. He seems to have that reputation for whatever reason….was surprised at how bad defensively he was as well but he has much better vision/passing then I realized. Good player, just seems to be a disconnect between perception/reality in terms of the kind of player he is.
Pens could sure use him
Put Bertuzzi up with Barkov
The thought of Bertuzzi to Florida crossed my mind recently. Seems like a good player/team fit, but can they make the money work?
Bring back the 90’s!
That’s $6M that could go to two fourth line players and a defenseman to build depth. Bertuzzi would be a waste of money, just like his uncle.