So long, Tyler Bertuzzi.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman continued his sell-off ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, shipping one of the team’s core players Thursday morning to the Boston Bruins in exchange for two more draft picks.
An unrestricted free agent this summer, Bertuzzi and the Wings were far apart in contract negotiations, so Yzerman added to his stockpile of draft picks by getting Boston’s 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
Bertuzzi, a staple for the Wings before injuries began taking a toll the past few seasons, immediately becomes part of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup chase (they’re the runaway Presidents’ Trophy favorite, 13 points ahead of second) escaping a Wings franchise that had never made the playoffs since he joined the team during the 2016-17 season.
Bertuzzi, 28, had four goals and 10 assists in 29 games with the Wings this season, but scored a career-high 30 goals last season.
Here’s how folks are reacting to the deal:
Red Wings fans: Listen to this week’s episode of the “Carlos and Shawn” podcast, embedded below. It features our Red Wings reporter Helene St. James, and examines the team’s recent losses and challenges during their playoff push. Catch “Carlos and Shawn” every Thursday morning at 5 and on demand on freep.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tyler Bertuzzi-Red Wings trade reaction: ‘Big gamble’ by Bruins