Unless there’s a change of heart, expect Todd Bertuzzi to join Ottawa’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton next week on a 25-game pro tryout. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) January 9, 2015
Bertuzzi, 39, had his name surface in connection with Ottawa last week, when various reports claimed the veteran winger was inquiring about a professional tryout.
Given subsequent reports that Sens GM Bryan Murray is working the phones to add offense, the Bertuzzi PTO makes some sense.
One, it’s a low-risk move -- assuming he joins Binghamton, it gives the Sens a pretty lengthy period of time to evaluate where Bertuzzi’s at; he hasn’t played since April of last year, when he appeared in one of Detroit’s five opening-round playoff games versus Boston.
Two, there might be a little left in Bertuzzi’s tank.
While his final campaign in Detroit was largely disappointing, he did have some decent spells. The big-bodied forward scored nine points over the first 23 games of the year, but that production was largely overshadowed by health concerns (shoulder) and the Steve Moore trial, which reached a settlement in August.
If those two factors are no longer an issue, Ottawa could be onto something.
Could be.
UPDATE: Official word from AHL Binghamton...
The Binghamton Senators announced today they have agreed to a professional tryout agreement with forward Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi is scheduled to report to Binghamton on Monday, January 12.
