In a twist of fate that even the most seasoned hockey insiders couldn’t have predicted, Tyler Bertuzzi found himself signing a lucrative four-year, $22 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1st. But this wasn’t always the plan for the talented forward. Just days before, Bertuzzi admitted that Chicago wasn’t even on his radar. So, what changed?
Enter Nick Foligno, the veteran winger and Bertuzzi’s former teammate in Boston. In a classic case of “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” Foligno, who had just completed a successful season with the Blackhawks, made a pivotal call to Bertuzzi the day before free agency opened.
“Chicago wasn’t really on my radar,” Bertuzzi revealed. “And then, the day before free agency, Nick Foligno called me and he said, ‘They’re a little bit interested.’ I was excited about that and things kind of went from there.”
New #Blackhawks forward Tyler Bertuzzi says Nick Foligno reached out to him before he decided to sign in Chicago.
🎥: via Chicago Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Y4ZkJCX3YW— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) July 5, 2024
That simple conversation ignited a whirlwind of negotiations that culminated in Bertuzzi inking a deal with the very team he hadn’t even considered. The Blackhawks, eager to bolster their offensive firepower, were thrilled to land the 29-year-old winger who had just put up an impressive 43-point season in Toronto.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson acknowledged Foligno’s instrumental role in the signing, saying, “I think Nick’s got a lot of friends around the league,” Davidson told reporters. “He’s a guy, I think, whose network is very large. It’s kind of funny when we hear that. We don’t ask them to do these things but Nick cares. He knows a lot of people, he loves the team and he wants to push this thing forward.”
Foligno’s “assist” on the Bertuzzi signing is a testament to the power of relationships and networking in professional sports. It also speaks to the growing appeal of the Blackhawks as a destination for top talent, even those who might not initially have them on their radar.
With Bertuzzi now in the fold, the Blackhawks are poised for a promising future. His combination of skill, grit, and net-front presence will be a valuable asset to the team as they look to build a contender in the years to come. And who knows, maybe Foligno has a few more surprises up his sleeve to help accelerate the Blackhawks’ rise to the top.