George Richards, FHN Publisher
CORAL SPRINGS — Tag Bertuzzi is a little fuzzy on the details of his brief time living in South Florida when his father Todd played for the Florida Panthers.
It is completely understandable.
For one, Tag Bertuzzi was only 5-years-old.
Secondly, the Bertuzzi family were here just a short time.
“Seven games,” Tag Bertuzzi said with a laugh. “I was really young, so I don’t remember much. I remember the city we lived in, but that’s it. It wasn’t a long stint because of my dad’s injury.”
He hopes to stick around a little while longer.
Now 21, Tag Bertuzzi is trying to make his own name with the Florida Panthers. He is currently participating in the team’s prospect tournament team in Raleigh and will attend training camp next week with an eye on earning a place on the AHL Charlotte Checkers.
“I’m a free agent now, so I’m looking for a job,” he said. “I’m looking to compete and hoping to take a spot in Charlotte for this season.”
Todd Bertuzzi came to the Panthers in the much-maligned Roberto Luongo trade of 2006.
Although he had a fantastic debut (Bertuzzi scored a goal with four points in Florida’s opening night 8-3 win over the Bruins), he sustained a back injury in a game against the Capitals just eight days later.
Although he rehabbed with the team and had started skating again following surgery on a herniated disk, general manager Jacques Martin traded him to the Detroit Red Wings for Shawn Matthias and draft picks on Feb. 27, 2007.
Tag Bertuzzi remembers the family lived in Parkland but does not remember the name of the elementary school he attended.
“I remember it was a beautiful city and the weather was great,” he said. “There’s not much to complain about living in Florida.”
Todd Bertuzzi left Detroit that offseason and played a season in both Anaheim and Calgary, but returned to the Red Wings in 2009 and that is where the family settled as he ended his career with the team in 2014.
Todd Bertuzzi currently does television work on Detroit broadcasts.
Tag Bertuzzi basically grew up in Michigan and that’s where he learned the game.
He played his minor hockey in the Detroit area before moving on the Guelph Storm to play junior.
After not being drafted, Bertuzzi played one final junior season last year closer to home with the Flint Firebirds — scoring 21 goals in 63 games.
The Panthers may have a couple spots in their minor league system and, well, Bertuzzi hopes to grab one of them.
Last year, the Panthers shared their AHL team with the Seattle Kraken but will stock the Charlotte Checkers on their own this season.
Although the Panthers could move a couple of their younger players to Charlotte after training camp, they still have positions open.
Bertuzzi started prospect camp with the Panthers by showing the physical side of his game, sporting a cut across his nose following the second practice of camp.
”It should be pretty competitive right now,” said Geordie Kinnear, the Charlotte coach who is running the prospect team. “We put a high value on being a competitor, to be highly-competitive and that’s what we want from the guys. Everyone should be at that level.”
After attending Montreal Canadiens development and rookie camps in the past, Bertuzzi thinks this is a good spot for him.
“They have a great staff, a lot of former NHL guys who know the game and are good at developing their guys,” Bertuzzi said. “You see a lot of their young guys work their way through the system. It’s an ideal spot for me and I feel lucky to be here and have a chance to earn a spot.”
The Panthers will continue their prospect tournament today in Raleigh, taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena at 1 p.m.
All games in the showcase will be streamed at carolinahurricanes.com.
For more information on the tournament and how to attend in person, CLICK HERE
The Panthers will return home following the tournament with training camp opening Thursday morning.
Bertuzzi wants to stick around as long as he can — and perhaps draw the attention during these camps.
“This is a great place to showcase your talent,” he said. “There are always injuries throughout a year but there are a lot of eyes out here. And, there are a lot of different teams watching. You don’t know who is going to like what you’re doing.
“It doesn’t even have to be Florida. This camp is a chance to be seen by a lot of different teams. It’s a good chance here and I am excited about. We’re playing three good teams in Carolina who have a lot of good players in their system. We’re all looking forward to competing with them. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
CAROLINA HURRICANES PROSPECT SHOWCASE
Florida Prospect Roster — Forwards: Liam Arnsby; Tag Bertuzzi; Riley Bezeau; Ethan Burroughs; Xavier Cormier; Josh Davies; Patrick Giles; Riley Ginnell; Beau Jelsma; Ethan Keppen; Sahil Panwar; Kai Schwindt; Justin Sourdif; Sandis Vilmanis. Defensemen: Marek Alscher; Robert Calisti; Dennis Cesana; Braden Hache; Santtu Kinnunen; Evan Nause; Calle Sjalin; Nathan Staios; Zachary Uens. Goaltenders: Mack Guzda; Kolby Hay; Jari Kykkanen.
Game Schedule
Friday
Florida Panthers 6, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Nashville Predators 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Sunday
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Nashville Predators (PNC Arena), 10 a.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers (PNC Arena), 1 p.m.
Monday
Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers (PNC Arena), 10 a.m.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (PNC Arena), 1 p.m.