When Kyle Davidson signed Tyler Bertuzzi first and then followed up later by bringing Teuvo Teravainen back to Chicago, the Blackhawks suddenly had a concrete collection of top six forwards. The next question was valid: Who plays on Connor Bedard’s wing on the top line? The short answer is that either is more than qualified to be there. The logical follow up question then asks about how the team would benefit most.
Turns out it could be a win-win in several facets. A breakdown of Tyler Bertuzzi’s 21 goals last season see a player always in tight toward the net and will score the tough, greasy goals. So there shouldn’t be a surprise as to why Bertuzzi would make sense on the top line with Bedard firing shots that would lead to chance after chance for Bertuzzi on the wing.
Just a glance at his work last season with Toronto and the spots he scored from lo and behold were right on the doorstep. Bertuzzi Goals 5v5 (Evolving Hockey) Bertuzzi Powerplay Goals (Evolving Hockey) Just a glance at where Bertuzzi makes his living should excite Hawks fans. Much has been written about Bedard’s shot and playmaking skills.
Who better to benefit from this than Bertuzzi, who scored 15 at 5v5 and another five on the power play. But the former should really excite–the lionshare of his work was done at even strength which makes a pretty compelling case for Bertuzzi at top line duties. The concern? Streakiness.
Bertuzzi labored to put up his 21 goals and saw 15 of those 21 scored in his final 30 games. That’s a hell of a clip but worrisome for a team that has to see more goal scoring from a team that was dead last in the league–and historically bad. 14 of Teravainen’s goals came at even strength, one short of Bertuzzi’s work.
However, these came from a more diverse spot on the ice and not just in close. Teravainen Goals 5v5 (Evolving Hockey) Teravainen Powerplay Goals (Evolving Hockey) The major difference here is that Teravainen found more success on the power play and a goal less at 5v5. But Teravainen shows the knack to score from different spots on the ice where as Bertuzzi is more of the “piano puller” who will score the gritty-less-pretty goals.
So of the two wingers, which one should be on that top line? Turns out it’s a trick question after all. Head coach Luke Richardson often had to find magic with his team last year struggling to put the puck in the net. Between the two of them, Teravainen and Bertuzzi put up 46 goals.
It’s practically a draw at even strength and there’s an argument that on the power play, spreading out the talent to different lines makes things better for the team’s specialty units. So the Blackhawks actually have a favorable dilemma if there is one. There’s now an abundance of talent for the top six, and sliding either one to that top line with Bedard is likely a 1A/1B argument.
Richardson could have the luxury of riding the hot line, and then when needed, using a line blender to spark more scoring later. Teuvo or Tyler on that top line? Sure looks like it won’t matter because it’s a win-win for all involved. This article first appeared on Chicago Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.
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