Help is on the way for Connor Bedard.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen agreed to contracts with Chicago on Monday, providing a major offensive lift for the rebuilding Blackhawks on the first day of NHL free agency.
Bertuzzi received a $22 million, four-year deal, and Teravainen’s agreement is worth $16.2 million over three seasons. Two people confirmed the Bertuzzi move and one confirmed the Tervainen contract to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the transactions.
The Blackhawks also added goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a $6.6 million, two-year contract. Ray Petkau, Brossoit’s agent, confirmed the deal in a social media post.
The Blackhawks are looking to upgrade its personnel around Bedard after the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s NHL draft had 22 goals and 39 assists in his first season. Even with Bedard in place, the Blackhawks were the lowest-scoring team in the league with 178 goals.
Bertuzzi and Teravainen, both 29, likely will play on one of the team’s top two lines. The Blackhawks also are expected to get Taylor Hall back after he missed most of last season with a right knee injury.
It’s a bit of a homecoming for Teravainen, who scored a career-high 25 goals and had 28 assists in 76 games for Carolina this season. He was selected by the Blackhawks in the first round of the 2018 draft and made his NHL debut in 2014.
Bertuzzi had 21 goals and 22 assists this season for Toronto, which was eliminated by Boston in seven games in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Bertuzzi broke into the NHL with Detroit after he was selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2013 draft. Bertuzzi’s uncle, Todd, also played in the league for 18 years.
Tyler Bertuzzi has 113 goals and 148 assists in 406 career games, also playing for Boston for part of the 2022-23 season. He set career highs with 30 goals and 32 assists with Detroit during the 2021-22 campaign.
Bertuzzi has skated in 14 playoff games — all in the last two years. He has recorded six goals and eight assists in the postseason.
