3 free agent forwards from the Eastern Conference the St. Louis Blues must avoid

Tyler Bertuzzi, Toronto Maple Leafs

Tyler Bertuzzi is one player who looked poised for a breakthrough following his 62-point, 30-goal campaign in 2021-22 before his 2022-23 season didn’t see him enjoy an uptick in production. Bertuzzi finished the year with just 30 points and eight goals in 50 games before he bounced back with a serviceable 43-point, 21-goal outing in 80 contests. 

Still not Bertuzzi’s best numbers, but his defensive play stood out for a team that couldn’t get enough of it, yet the Toronto Maple Leafs once again fell short in Round 1 of the playoffs. Perhaps general manager Brad Treliving was impressed enough by a defensive effort from Bertuzzi that saw him record career-highs in blocks (44), hits (98), and takeaways (44). 

Bertuzzi also bounced back in his goal-scoring efforts, snagging 21 of them and a 13.1 shooting percentage. For the Blues, this means a potential middle-six scorer, plus someone who could give them even more help in the defensive zone. 

Overall, Bertuzzi wouldn’t make for a bad signing, but it’s all about what type of player the Blues will get. The one from 2021-22 and this past season, or the player that struggled to stay on the ice and didn’t put together too many solid performances in 2022-23? 

The Blues need someone with a more consistent track record than Bertuzzi, even if he wouldn’t make for an awful signing if Doug Armstrong brought him in on a “prove-it” deal.