Former Bruins Fan Favourite's Career Hits Rock Bottom With New Team

PUBLICATION

Austin Sabourin
November 4, 2023 (11:57)

SHARE THIS STORY

Former Boston Bruins player Tyler Bertuzzi has found himself under scrutiny with his new team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, this season.

After making a high-profile move in the offseason, Bertuzzi's performance in Toronto has been far from what was expected.

Bertuzzi, known for his gritty and tenacious style of play, was seen as a valuable addition to the Maple Leafs' roster. However, his output has been underwhelming in the first three weeks of the season, with just three points to his name.

This is despite the privilege of playing alongside star players like John Tavares and William Nylander, who have combined for an impressive 26 points in just 10 games.

The Maple Leafs' loss to the Bruins on a Thursday night was a turning point. Head coach Sheldon Keefe decided he had seen enough and demoted Bertuzzi to the fourth line, a significant shift from his anticipated role on a higher line.

Keefe expressed his frustration with Bertuzzi's performance postgame, stating,

"He just needs to simplify his game. Today, we had a very simple plan, and he failed to execute that, so other guys had to take his place."

The lineup shuffle that followed had its impact, but unfortunately, not for Bertuzzi. While he struggled to make a significant contribution on the fourth line, Matthew Knies replaced him and made an impression by putting five shots on goal during Toronto's attempted comeback.

In comparison to his short stint with the Bruins, Bertuzzi's performance in Toronto has been a stark contrast. If he were to continue at this pace, he would finish the season with only 25 points, assuming he played all 82 games.

During his time in Boston, he was on a much more impressive 60-point pace and even managed to accumulate an astonishing 10 points in seven postseason games.

Bertuzzi had become a fan-favorite during his time with the Bruins, but due to salary cap constraints, a longer stay was not feasible in the 2022-23 season. He capitalized on his productive run in Boston to secure a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs.

As for a potential reunion with the Bruins, it's a complex situation. Toronto has no immediate incentive to trade Bertuzzi back to Boston, and the Bruins currently face financial limitations that make it challenging to absorb his contract.

Nevertheless, as Bertuzzi continues to struggle in his new environment, it's a scenario that could gain more attention in the upcoming offseason, even though it remains a bit premature to delve too deeply into such speculations.

As seen on nesn