The Boston Bruins acquired forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a protected 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick on Thursday.
The Red Wings will retain 50 percent of Bertuzzi’s $4.75 million salary.
Bertuzzi has registered four goals and 14 points in 29 games this season after missing significant time with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old is coming off a 30-goal, 62-point campaign, the best of his seven-year NHL career.
Bertuzzi is in the final year of a two-year, $9.5 million contract ($4.75 million AAV), and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.
The move will solidify the league-leading Bruins’ scoring depth in the wake of an injury to winger Taylor Hall, who is seeking a second opinion on a lower-body injury, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, a potential trade out of Detroit gained traction after contract talks between Bertuzzi and the Red Wings broke down earlier this season.
Detroit selected the Sudbury, ON., native in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft and spent three seasons in the AHL before making his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season. He is the nephew of former NHLer Todd Bertuzzi.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has been busy over the last 24 hours, signing captain Dylan Larkin to an eight-year, $69.6 million contract extension and trading defenseman Filip Hronek to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.