Tyler Bertuzzi announces plans for Bruins

The Boston Bruins acquired scrappy forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings at last week's National Hockey League Trade Deadline, bringing him aboard after Detroit's general manager Steve Yzerman ultimately decided that he had to once again be a seller. 

In exchange, the Bruins sent a 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected) and a 2025 fourth-round pick back to the Motor City. 

Bertuzzi made his Boston debut on Saturday, picking up an assist in his new team's victory over the visiting New York Rangers at TD Garden in downtown Boston. And according to the man himself, it doesn't matter what he's asked to do - he'll do it as long as it helps the Bruins win games. 

“Not quite like my first NHL game [as far as nerves], but once that anthem came and it was done and the puck was dropped it was just full go from there," Bertuzzi said. "It was good just to kind of get my feet wet and do it, hear the crowd and just kind of celebrate with the guys and be in the mix a little bit."

“I thought we played simple and pretty good. I’ll do whatever. I’m here to just try and win hockey games. Wherever I play, that’s where I play.”

For Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who is easily the front runner for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach, Bertuzzi's debut was everything the team was expecting.

“Just like we had anticipated. He’s a hockey player and he made a lot of plays. He set [David Krejci] up for an open net in the second and it popped or rolled on his stick or else that’s in the back of the net,” said Montgomery. “He’s really smart with his game management too, like he didn’t force plays at all. You put him in knowing that he likes to forecheck and his linemates like to forecheck.”

The Bruins are next in action on Thursday against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.