Tyler Bertuzzi admits that a Blackhawk reached out while he was under contract

The NHL's free agency period can be both exciting and stressful for players and teams alike. For Tyler Bertuzzi, a phone call from Nick Foligno may have played a significant role in his decision to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks.

As the 2023-2024 season came to a close, it was clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to make some changes to their roster. While many speculated about the potential trade of Mitch Marner, others wondered if the team would be able to re-sign Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, who were both coming off one-year contracts.

As of July 1st, both Domi and Bertuzzi had signed new deals, with Bertuzzi opting to join the Blackhawks. While it may have seemed like a straightforward decision, it appears that Foligno's phone call played a significant role in convincing Bertuzzi to sign with Chicago.

Bertuzzi admitted that Chicago wasn't even on his radar until Foligno reached out to him. While it's possible that Foligno was simply acting as an extension of the Blackhawks' front office, the fact that the full details of Bertuzzi's contract were revealed online at 7:30 am on July 1st raises some eyebrows.

While it's likely that situations like this occur frequently and innocently, it's also possible that some form of tampering or collusion occurs deliberately, albeit through players or their representatives rather than teams themselves. Regardless, Bertuzzi has signed a four-year deal with the Blackhawks and is set to call the United Centre home for the foreseeable future.

Source: Blade of Steel
Tyler Bertuzzi comments could lead to tampering investigation