BERTUZZI OPEN TO EXTENSION, WINGS TO EVALUATE

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Tyler Bertuzzi returned to the Detroit Red Wings lineup Tuesday night after missing several weeks with an upper-body injury and with less than two months until the trade deadline, speculation has started regarding his future plans.

Bertuzzi, 27, is in the final year of a two-year, $9.5 million contract. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and does not own any no-trade protection.

With the Red Wings currently seven points back of a wildcard position in the Eastern Conference, chatter is starting to pick up over the team’s direction over the next seven weeks.

Bertuzzi and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin lead the list of pending UFAs the club has to worry about and are two players generating interest from around the league.

Forwards Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist and Adam Erne, defencemen Olli Maatta, Jordan Oesterle, Robert Hagg and Jake Walman, and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic are among the team’s other UFAs-to-be.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is expected to pick up contract talks with Larkin’s agent Pat Brisson no later than after the All-Star break, and I am told the same is expected with Bertuzzi’s agent Todd Reynolds.

According to a source close to the organization, Bertuzzi is open and willing to sign an extension with the Red Wings and stay in Detroit beyond this season, providing the right contract can be ironed out between the two parties.

The Red Wings held preliminary contract talks with Bertuzzi’s camp earlier in the season and discussions are expected to pick up in the relatively near future.

If Yzerman comes to the conclusion that a new deal isn’t in the cards, the Red Wings will look to move him ahead of the trade deadline – and with a $4.75 million salary cap hit and his offensive capabilities, and versatility of playing both wings, there will surely be plenty of interest.

Teams have reached out about Bertuzzi’s availability over prior seasons, as we’ve reported here multiple times, which is why he’s currently listed on the TFP Trade Watch List. The Wings could re-engage in those discussions if they decide to explore the trade route.

WILL FLYERS RETAIN ON HAYES?

It’s evident that The Philadelphia Flyers will be a popular team between now and March 3.

With several players legitimate trade targets – just about anyone not named Carter Hart is a player the Flyers are open to talking about – management will have their hands full leading up to the deadline.

James van Riemsdyk and Justin Braun, two players on expiring contracts, are expected to be moved, while Ivan Provorov and Kevin Hayes will be among those players with multiple years left on their deals, that will be creating a buzz.

Since the off-season, we’ve reported the Flyers have been willing to listen on Provorov. The same can be said for such players as Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Scott Laughton. They’re all costly, but not untouchable.

With word picking up this week that Provorov and the Flyers may be headed down the path of divorce, he’s generated the bulk of the attention this week.

But keep an eye on Kevin Hayes.

As Anthony Di Marco reported on Monday, the Flyers are prepared to trade Hayes if the right deal presented itself. But in order for a move to be executed, the Flyers will likely need to retain a portion of his contract.

Hayes, 30, has three more seasons left on his contract at a $7,142,857 salary cap hit and owns a 12-team no-trade list.

Speaking with multiple executives and managers across the NHL, both Anthony and I have been told the interest in Hayes would spike significantly if the Flyers are willing to retain anywhere from $2 million to $3 million of Hayes’ average annual value.

As I mentioned on NHL Now on NHL Network on Tuesday, multiple teams looking to strengthen themselves up the middle will inquire if the Flyers eat, say, 30 percent of his contract. The Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken could be among those intrigued at the possibility.

If Hayes isn’t moved by the deadline, look for talks to carry out into the off-season and around the NHL Draft.