Detroit Red Wings lock-up Todd Bertuzzi with two-year contract extension -NHL Update
Detroit locked up their veteran right winger, Todd Bertuzzi, as previously speculated as the Red Wings announced a two-year extension with the player on Thursday, February 23, 2012, keeping him well through the 2013-2014 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
Bertuzzi was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this 2011-2012 regular season and was not one of those players that Detroit would allow to test the free agency market due to his significance on the club.
The two-year contract extension is reportedly worth $4.15 million, somewhat bigger compared to his previous deal which was for a cool $3.875 million over the span of two seasons.
"I think it just worked out that way," said Bertuzzi. "It's the place I want to stay and play. When Kenny and [agent Pat Morris] figured out two years was doable, it was an easy decision for myself to accept."
With Pavel Datsyuk out due to an injury, Bertuzzi is expected to bump up his game and it is widely observed that this deal was done as quickly as possible in order to be a motivating factor for the player and not have him focusing on whether he will be playing with Detroit next season or not.
"That's the only thing," Bertuzzi said. "Getting a deal done was exciting and happy, but my whole main goal here is just to win, and this is the place to do it. You never know what's going to happen. You stay in the present and do what you can in order to make yourself an asset for the team, and I think that's what I've done here."
Todd Bertuzzi was picked up as the 23rd overall draft pick during the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders and is currently playing his 16th season in the league, third straight with Detroit Red Wings.
The veteran has played 1,077 career games and boasts a point record of 742 (301 goals, 441 assists).
As Detroit Red Wings are flying high this year, a player who has potted 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) this season in 55 games so far is certainly a must-keep.
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