Tyler Bertuzzi may have confirmed Blackhawks tampered during free agency

Newly signed Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Bertuzzi apparently learned nothing from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Like Cousins in his introductory press conference, Bertuzzi may have confirmed that tampering occurred with his new team before the start of free agency on July 1.

“Chicago wasn’t really on my radar,” Bertuzzi said via CHGO Blackhawks. “And then, the day before free agency, Nick Foligno called me and he said, ‘They’re a little bit interested.’ I was excited, obviously, about that, and then things kind of went from there.”

Bertuzzi, who scored 21 goals and 43 points last season, ultimately signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Blackhawks the day free agency began.

The 29-year-old left winger would still have been technically under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs if his conversation with Foligno took place the day before free agency.

That would mean Foligno, an alternate captain on the Blackhawks, violated the NHL’s tampering policy, prohibiting players and coaches from trying to influence another player under contract with another team. 

However, don’t expect much to come of the situation.

The belief around the league is that tampering was so widespread this offseason that conducting any investigations into possible allegations simply wouldn’t be worth the NHL’s time.

Penalties for tampering in the NHL usually amount to just a slap on the wrist. In 2016, then-Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning was fined just $50,000 for tampering after publicly stating his intent to sign both Steven Stamkos and P.K. Subban in free agency.