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Canes Retool Defense, Re-sign Slavin, Add Walker
CHICAGO -- Help is on the way for Connor Bedard.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen agreed to contracts with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, the team announced, providing a major offensive lift for the rebuilding team on the first day of NHL free agency.
Bertuzzi received a $22 million, four-year deal, and Teravainen's agreement is worth $16.2 million over three seasons.
The Blackhawks also added goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a $6.6 million, two-year contract.
In other moves, Chicago signed winger Pat Maroon to a one-year deal for $1.3 million, defenseman Alec Martinez (one year, $1.4 million) and center Craig Smith (1 year, $1 million).
Chicago is looking to upgrade its personnel around Bedard after the first overall pick in last year's NHL draft had 22 goals and 39 assists in his first season. Even with Bedard in place, the Blackhawks were the lowest-scoring team in the league with 178 goals.
Bertuzzi and Teravainen, both 29, likely will play on one of the team's top two lines. The Blackhawks also are expected to get Taylor Hall back after he missed most of last season with a right knee injury.
"Tyler is a fantastic competitor who brings energy every night," general manager Kyle Davidson said. "He has enjoyed consistent offensive success throughout his career and we look forward to watching Tyler to continue to produce at the high level he's shown he is capable of."
It's a bit of a homecoming for Teravainen, who scored a career-high 25 goals and had 28 assists in 76 games for the Carolina Hurricanes this season. He was selected by Chicago in the first round of the 2018 draft and made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in 2014.
"We're thrilled to have Teuvo back in Chicago," Davidson said. "He was a big part of our 2015 Stanley Cup team and we're excited to have his leadership and experience back in our room."
Bertuzzi had 21 goals and 22 assists this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was eliminated by Boston in seven games in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Bertuzzi broke into the NHL with Detroit after he was selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2013 draft. Bertuzzi's uncle, Todd, also played in the league for 18 years.
Tyler Bertuzzi has 113 goals and 148 assists in 406 career games, also playing for Boston for part of the 2022-23 season. He set career highs with 30 goals and 32 assists with Detroit during the 2021-22 campaign.
Bertuzzi has skated in 14 playoff games -- all in the last two years. He has recorded six goals and eight assists in the postseason.
Brossoit, 31, went 15-5-2 with a 2.00 goals-against average as the backup to Connor Hellebuyck with the Winnipeg Jets last season. In the 2022-23 season, he went 7-0-3 with the Vegas Golden Knights, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Maroon, a rugged fourth-line presence who often takes the ice after an opponent's goal to help swing the momentum, won the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons, beginning with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 before a back-to-back run with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Bruins last season, and he averaged just 9:35 of ice time during the playoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
