Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

From Todd to Tyler to Tag?

The Bertuzzis — the elder a legendary former NHL power forward, the nephew a promising Red Wings prospect, the son a budding teenage star — are having a blast getting together over their favorite sport at Troy Sports Center, where Todd coaches Tag’s U-16 Oakland Grizzlies and Tyler is a summer guest.

“It’s awesome for me, especially with how Tyler has been doing, how he has been progressing,” Todd Bertuzzi said. “He’s starting to mature, and it’s very nice to see him growing up. If anything, this is a good chance for him to try to get himself a spot with the Wings this season.”

Tyler, the son of Todd’s sister Angela, is living with Todd and his wife and children in their Birmingham home the rest of the summer in an effort to get a head start on the prospects tournament that precedes September’s training camp. Tyler, drafted 58th overall in 2013, works out with Wings forwards Dylan Larkin, Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening, and on off days, Tyler joins Todd at an indoor track to work on acceleration and speed.

Tyler turned pro after finishing the 2014-15 season with 43 goals among 98 points for the OHL’s Guelph Storm (also the junior hockey team of Todd). Tyler is coming off a very good rookie season with the Grand Rapids Griffins that saw him produce 12 goals among 30 points in 71 games — along with 133 penalty minutes that underscore his reputation as a first-rate agitator.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Tyler Bertuzzi strong in AHL playoffs

“Not to go outside my realm here, but I think he’s a player the Wings could use,” Todd told the Free Press. “He’s an energy guy, good with the puck, and good defensively.”

Credit some of Tyler’s emergence as an all-around player to another former Wing, Daniel Cleary.

“Bear had Tyler in Grand Rapids this year, they spent a lot of time together and I give Bear a lot of credit for teaching Tyler how to be a pro,” Todd said. “I can see the difference in Tyler, just in his maturity level overall. I’m very close with Dan, and he’s told me how impressed he is with how intelligent a player Tyler is at both ends of the ice. Being an ex-Wing, I know they stress a 200-foot game.

“I think there’s a good possibility that if he has a very good camp and keeps his head small, goes in there and works hard, there’s a good chance he shows them something.”

Tyler, 21, is up against a glut of forwards, but Larkin was 19 last fall when he showed his bosses he belonged in Detroit.

“We’re high on Tyler as a prospect,” assistant general manager Ryan Martin said. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if he opened some eyes. We expect a lot out of him. He warrants a long look and we expect him to have an opportunity to play some games.”

Detroit Red Wings prospect Tyler Bertuzzi gets gritty 'to win cups'

Tyler demonstrated his ability to leap into harder leagues when he turned pro in the spring of 2015. He ended up playing 14 playoff games with the Griffins, scoring seven goals among 12 points, impressing management and head coach Jeff Blashill, who is now behind Detroit’s bench.

“We weren’t sure where he’d fit in the mix, and Tyler didn’t miss a beat,” Martin said. “He went from being a question mark to being on one of the top two lines.

“His first full year pro, he’d be the first to admit it was more challenging than expected,” Martin said. “But Tyler is smart enough to marry up to one of the guys that played a long time in the NHL, and he and Dan were a good fit.”

Where Tyler is nearing the NHL, Todd, 41, capped a legendary NHL career in 2013-14. He gained fame as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in the early 2000s when he scored goals as prolifically as he amassed penalties, highlighted by a 46-goal, 144 penalty-minute 2002-03 season.

He first came to Detroit in the spring of 2007, and then rejoined the Wings in 2009 for the duration of his career. He became a fan favorite at Joe Louis Arena, with fans chanting “Todd Bertuzzi” in approval of his more bruising displays. The final stats on his NHL career read 1,159 games, 314 goals, 768 points and 1,478 penalty minutes.

After briefly flirting with a comeback in 2014, Todd took to heart a stint with the Ottawa Senators’ farm club.

“The first year was more difficult than I anticipated,” he said. “I was not as prepared as I should have been. Once I figure out I couldn’t play anymore, that fast-tracked me to retirement. Then I needed to figure out my own life and what I wanted to do with it.”

That led to taking over coaching Tag’s team last year, and continuing for one more year. A transition is on the horizon, however — Todd and Julie’s daughter, Jaden, is entering her senior year at Cranbrook and looking at universities, while Tag, entering 10th grade, could also be on the move next summer.

“This is Tag’s OHL draft year, so I’ll see where he goes,” Todd said. “He’s projected to go in the top five. I think I want to coach in the OHL after next year.”

It’s early, of course, but the plan is for Tag to follow Todd and Tyler to the NHL.

Like many a former Wings player, Todd stuck around the metro Detroit area post-playing days because there’s so much to like. He remains friends with many of the Wings he played with, and participated in the team’s year-end baseball game.

“For me, it’s the lifestyle of the area,” Todd said. “I love the area of Birmingham-Bloomfield, and I’ve started going to downtown Detroit more. It’s great to see the effort put in there, it’s a great atmosphere. People around here are fantastic. I’ve made a lot of non-hockey friends, too.”

Todd starts his days with a bike ride and a trip to his local Starbucks. Come September or October, he’s planning a father-son trip to the Joe to see Tyler in an exhibition game. The poignancy already leaves the big man emotional.

“It’s the last season at the Joe, and I want to take my son down there, one last look at the ice I skated on,” Todd said. “To see Tyler in uniform, it’ll be extra special.”

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!