WINGS SEND BERTUZZI TO GRAND RAPIDS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday assigned forward Tyler Bertuzzi to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Bertuzzi, 22, made his season debut with the Red Wings last Saturday, logging one shot in 9:13 of ice time during the team’s 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit’s third choice, 58th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Bertuzzi appeared in seven games with Detroit last season, as he became the 157th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL.

A third-year pro, Bertuzzi has notched nine points (5-4—9) and 22 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Griffins this season after missing the first nine contests due to injury.

Bertuzzi was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL’s most valuable player in the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs while helping Grand Rapids win the franchise’s second Calder Cup. His 19 points (9-10—19) in 19 games tied for sixth in the league and his 50 penalty minutes were an AHL high. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound winger added 37 points (12-25—37) and 37 PIM in 48 regular season games with the Griffins in 2016-17.

Since joining Grand Rapids at the end of the 2014-15 season, the Sudbury, Ontario, native has accumulated 77 points (30-47—77) in 133 regular season games and 39 points (23-16—39) – second most in team postseason history – in 42 playoff appearances.

The Griffins are back at Van Andel Arena for three games in four nights this week, beginning tomorrow against Iowa at 7 p.m.

Single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.