The Chicago Blackhawks are getting certainly one of their simplest players back into the lineup as they proceed to enjoy certainly one of their best starts in recent memory. After missing the last two games, Tyler Bertuzzi will play against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night, head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed.
Bertuzzi was hit hard into the boards by Recent Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon during a 4-3 extra time loss back on November 12. He missed two contests; a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, and a 5-2 triumph against the Calgary Flames two nights later — each on home ice.
That hit cost Dillon a $5,000 high quality, although he wasn’t suspended for the check, and neither Bertuzzi nor the team confirmed that the injury stemmed from the play.
Bertuzzi was seen through the team’s morning skate taking line rushes alongside Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. He’ll also rejoin his spot with the highest powerplay group, alongside Connor Bedard, Teuvo Teravainen, Andre Burakovsky and Artyom Levshunov.
The 30-year-old power forward has been excellent on a surging Hawks team in 2025-26, managing nine goals and 15 points in only 16 games. He’s spent quite a little bit of time on Bedard’s wing; the young phenom is breaking out to the tune of 29 points in 19 games this 12 months.
The Sudbury, Ontario native is trending towards a profession 12 months; Bertuzzi’s best regular-season got here back in 2021-22, when he amassed 62 points in 68 games with the Detroit Red Wings.
Last 12 months with the Hawks, he played a full 82-game slate but only chipped in 46 points. If he can proceed even near the pace he’s right now around, he should give you the chance to shatter that mark.
Over 504 National Hockey League regular-season games, Bertuzzi has scored 145 goals and 177 assists for 322 points. He might be a key addition as Chicago looks to maintain on banking points early within the campaign.
Blackhawks appear to be a playoff team in 2025-26 — up to now
It’s an extended season, however the Hawks are doing loads of things right within the early going. With Bedard leading the charge, and Spencer Knight looking just like the goalie of the current and future within the Windy City, Blashill’s team is 10-5-4 and tied for third place within the Central Division.
The Western Conference is a logjam, with 10 teams separated by just 4 points. Every game is critical despite it only being November, and it looks just like the Hawks are taking that to heart.
They’ve won two in a row and five of six, the one loss in that stretch coming to the Devils in extra time. It looks like they’re coming out of the rebuild in a giant way, and Bertuzzi returning to the fold should only assist in that quest.
The Blackhawks will attempt to secure one other two points when puck drops against the Kraken just past 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday night.