Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Derek Lalonde spoke on Tyler Bertuzzi’s performance thus far this season while battling through multiple injuries; and How Bertuzzi is putting the pieces back together and regaining his rhythm.

“Looks like even in practice today, he’d be hard not to notice. So that’s a very good sign. Not surprising for me in that the poor guy just wasn’t able to get rhythm misses More than half training camp. Two games, injury out six weeks, handful of games, injury out six weeks comes back. Obviously, you also have to give him a little credit of trying to play, manage his game a little better.”

“You can see his shift links are managing, obviously bad turnover for the goal against with the open netter. But you’re not seeing him with the egregious turnovers. He’s trying to manage his game while keeping his offense going and he’s getting there. Which is a good sign for us.”

Dylan Larkin says this is the most he’s seen Bertuzzi look like himself after his injuries. Says Bert stuck around during the break and worked on his game #LGRW

— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) February 8, 2023

Lalonde’s First Impression of Tyler Bertuzzi

Derek Lalonde also was asked about his first impressions of Bertuzzi along with what he knew about him as a player coming into his first season as the Red Wings Head Coach.

“He keeps pucks alive. He’s got that stick. To me, watching him last year and what he’s been missing with not having his rhythm not being around is, these little two foot races in the o-zone on the forecheck that he gets a stick on and keeps alive. He wasn’t unable to get there.

Now you can see his pace getting there. He’s keeping plays alive. I mean, the goal he scored was a great. Example of execution. On a set forecheck into a forecheck. They kept the play alive in the back of the net. So that’s who he is. Uh, I’ve looked at him from a far always hunting pucks, keeping plays alive in the ozone, and he’s been doing that of late.”