Bertuzzi Has Two Goals, One Empty-Netter, in 2026-27 Start

Tyler Bertuzzi has recorded two goals in the early part of the 2026-27 season. One of those goals was an empty-netter. The 31-year-old winger led the Chicago Blackhawks with 32 goals in the 2025-26 campaign, but his production has slowed considerably under head coach Jeff Blashill's new system.

The team's offensive structure relies heavily on speed and aggressive forechecking. Bertuzzi is among the slower skaters in the National Hockey League. In the Hawks' 2-1-2 forecheck, he often finds himself chasing the puck back up the ice before he can pressure opposing defensemen. This mismatch between his style and the team's pace has limited his time with the puck in the attacking zone.

Bertuzzi's shot attempts have dropped sharply compared to last year. During five-on-five play, he is averaging 6.5 shot attempts per 60 minutes, down from 10.7 in the previous season. On the power play, his average has fallen to 10.8 attempts per 60 minutes, compared to 18.6 last year. He was removed from the top power-play unit for the first time this season during the current week.

His finishing percentage has also declined. Only 47.2 percent of his attempts have been on target, down from 55.4 percent last season. His goal percentage stands at 5.5 percent, a drop from 10.8 percent. Bertuzzi attributes some of this to bad luck, noting that several tap-ins have missed the net in recent games.

Coach Blashill said the team needs to do a better job of feeding Bertuzzi in the crease. "We've got to do a better job of getting more pucks..for him to get opportunities for rebound looks, tip looks, things like that," Blashill said. "That's not on him; that's on our team. Right now, we're just not generating enough across the board."

Bertuzzi remains confident that the goals will return. He noted that he is creating chances and looking for spots to get open. "It just needs to cross the red line," Bertuzzi said. "I'll keep going to the net. I'm not too worried about it."