DETROIT – Sam Gagner’s advice to younger players is to watch how Tyler Bertuzzi does it.
“You certainly gain a deeper appreciation for his game when you’re on his team and you see what he’s able to do night in and night out,” Gagner said. “We were talking about it the other night -- he’s just one of those guys that the puck seems to follow him around. You think he loses it, and he gets it back and he strips a guy, makes a play through somebody. He’s just a great hockey player, that’s what it comes down to.
“He’s a guy that I would tell younger players to watch him play. He’s all over the puck, he hounds it. When he gets it, he keeps it.”
Bertuzzi has been on scoring surge, with 10 goals and 18 points in his past 13 games. He is the only Detroit Red Wing averaging more than a point a game (19 goals, 17 assists in 34 games).
The Red Wings, following a three-day break, host the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday (7:30 p.m., TNT).
Bertuzzi, 26, had back surgery just nine months ago, but he has displayed the same drive and relentlessness he has throughout his career, producing at an even better rate.
“You always get scared when people have back surgery when they’re young,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I don’t care if they’re an athlete or not an athlete, it’s a hard thing to do. I know back surgeons would even say they prefer other avenues before surgery. With that said, I think he’s come back great. He’s come back and played without any fear, which I think is important coming back from any injury.
“He’s been hard on the puck. He’s always been a guy who cares a lot, but he’s gotten even better at his attention to detail in practice every day. I think that’s carried forward to his consistency in his game. I think lately he’s really made a concerted effort to focus on trying to get better at managing the puck. I think it’s something that he didn’t do good enough early when he was producing.”
Blashill was hesitant to separate Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin, who seem to have always had good chemistry together, but he wanted the second line to be more dangerous. So Bertuzzi joined Pius Suter and Robby Fabbri, his junior teammates years ago at OHL Guelph, four games ago. It has provided better scoring balance, despite a 4-1 loss at Nashville Saturday.
“You get to the point where you can potentially drive a line. I think he has done that,” Blashill said. “He’s brought Suits and Fabbs to another level. That’s what good players do.
“I don’t think it’s taken away from either group’s offense. I think they’ve both been able to produce chances.”
Larkin said Bertuzzi’s playmaking has continued to grow. He has six assists in the past four games.
“He’s got great hands, great hand-eye coordination,” Larkin said. “He’s always fighting for the puck, sometimes fighting with the puck to get it through guys, and it works. He’s continued to get better and continued to gain confidence and make good plays.”
Gagner said Bertuzzi is probably underrated league-wide.
“The guys that don’t pop out at you because of their skating or their shot or anything like that, they tend to be a little underrated,” Gagner said. “He’s just a guy who’s got great hockey sense. He knows where to be on the ice. He wins tons of battles. He’s the type of guy that come playoff time would be a great player.
“He’s a great teammate, he’s fun to be around, and the type of year he’s having is awesome. He’ll keep growing.”
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