New team emerges with reported Tyler Bertuzzi interest

The National Hockey League Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, and thanks to a sudden surge, the Detroit Red Wings have the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference within sight. It was Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman who reported this past weekend that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is no longer interested in dealing pending unrestricted free agent forward to-be Tyler Bertuzzi thanks to Detroit's climb in the standings. 

Among the teams that had reported interest in the gritty Bertuzzi included the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. If the report from Friedman is to be believed, it sounds as though they'll have to be looking else where at the deadline for some added sandpaper. 

But is there a new team still interested in potentially bringing Bertuzzi aboard? According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Minnesota Wild are keen on him. 

"There were 13 scouts at Sunday’s Wild-Predators game, including a late add, Detroit assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff. The Wild have expressed interest in pending free agent Tyler Bertuzzi, so his rare visit to Minnesota was notable. One player it’s believed the Wild have been shopping is Jordan Greenway, who has two years left on his contract at $3 million."

As you may know, the Wild have advanced past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs only a single time in their existence, nearly 20 years ago during their improbable run to the Western Conference Final before running into the giant human king size mattress known as J.S. Giguere. 

Wild general manager Bill Guerin has shown that he's not afraid whatsoever to make franchise altering moves, electing to part ways with Ryan Suter and Zach Parise knowing full well the salary cap hell that would await them. And while a potential deal for Bertuzzi certainly wouldn't be "franchise altering", it would give them another valuable piece in the lineup as they look to shed their reputation from detractors as the Minnesota "Mild".