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Boston Bruins Rumors: Why letting Tyler Bertuzzi walk is a big mistake

By Alan Nahigian

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Florida Panthers during the third period of Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Florida Panthers during the third period of Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins should be trying to get back to the NHL playoffs and actually finishing the job this time.

After a record-setting regular season, they lost in the first round of the NHL playoffs to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers.

So now, the Bruins need to restructure their roster. They did everything they could at the trade deadline last year to add to a potential Stanley Cup contending team. The big names that came in were Dmitry Orlov (signed with Carolina), Garnet Hathaway (signed with Philadelphia), and Tyler Bertuzzi.

We knew that the Bruins wouldn’t be able to keep all three of those guys after the 2022-2023 season. But you hoped that you could keep one of them, and the name thatconsistently came up was Tyler Bertuzzi.

Well now, it looks like the Bruins will be moving on from Bertuzzi and honestly…that’s a huge mistake by Don Sweeney and company.

Boston Bruins letting an important piece in Tyler Bertuzzi walk

The thing that I don’t like about Bertuzzi most likely leaving is the fact that he fit within the Boston Bruins organization so well.

He’s tough, smart, and played well on the second line with the likes of guys like David Pastrnak. So why let him go now? Why let him sign a big contract on another team when you could’ve brought him back on a reasonable deal here?

Now you’re having to sign veterans on one year deals like James Van Riemsdyk and Milan Lucic, which is fine. But you’re letting a really talented player, along with a potential vital piece of the future, walk away after making it seem like he was a priority.

That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Boston Bruins trading Taylor Hall for potential cap space for Tyler Bertuzzi

One of the things that really aggravates a lot of Boston Bruins fans is the fact that the organization traded away Taylor Hall to Chicago. The move was supposed to in theory, create cap space to keep Bertuzzi long-term in Boston!

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Now I understand the other angle that Taylor Hall being traded didn’t necessarily mean it was all for Bertuzzi. The Bruins were able to make some smaller moves, which again, is great.

But wouldn’t you rather have the guy that played well in the playoffs and brought a level of toughness and intensity that you desperately needed?

Boston Bruins should want Tyler Bertuzzi long-term

If I’m Don Sweeney, I seriously reconsider not wanting to keep Bertuzzi long-term. He’s a guy that can help you now and in the future.

Next. Grading the Bruins 2023 NHL Draft class. dark

You’re never going to get the same results you got last season ever again. That was a one in a generation type of season!

But bringing back Bertuzzi can at least give you some additional talent, especially with that second line like mentioned before.

It’s going to make me sick if he ends up with someone like Toronto or Montreal. Or really any other team for that matter!

Please find a way to bring him back to Boston Don, PLEASE!

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