The Detroit Red Wings currently have 11 Restricted Free Agents (RFA) that General Manager Steve Yzerman has to make decisions on. An RFA by definition in the NHL is a player whose rights are held by their team for a minimum of seven years or age 27, whichever comes first.
On Wednesday, I looked at the unrestricted free agents whose contracts are expiring and who is most likely to come back.
Here is a look at each of Detroit’s RFA’s, excluding Matthias Brome and Christian Djoos, who both signed contracts in Europe and will not be back with the Red Wings next season.
Age: 26
2021 Stats
GP: 9
G: 5
A: 2
PTS: 7
2021 Salary: $3,500,000
Status
Tyler Bertuzzi has one year remaining before he can become an Unrestricted Free Agent. A severe back injury, which limited Bertuzzi to only nine games, may limit Bertuzzi’s bargaining power for his next contract. Does he sign a bridge deal of 2-3 years and hope that his back holds out? Does Yzerman gamble and sign Bertuzzi long term, hoping that the injury to Bertuzzi’s back does not reoccur?
Prediction
Tyler Bertuzzi signs a three year contract for $15.0 million with an annual cap hit of $5.0 million.