Tyler Bertuzzi might soon find himself under investigation by the NHL for potential tampering issues after he revealed that Nick Foligno of the Chicago Blackhawks contacted him prior to the opening of NHL free agency. Recent reports indicate that the NFL is reexamining the frequency with which teams engage players immediately after free agency begins, suggesting that discussions are taking place earlier than allowed. The league has previously probed several contracts, including that of John Tavares, but overt tampering by teams is rarely concluded.
While the Blackhawks and Bertuzzi might not face any immediate consequences, it’s important for teams to remain cautious as the league is closely monitoring these situations.
Bertuzzi confirmed that Foligno reached out to him before he made his decision to join the Blackhawks. Elliott Friedman mentioned in his recent “32 Thoughts” column that the NHL is further investigating these interactions, particularly focusing on Bertuzzi’s case. There are suspicions of a breach of free agency negotiation rules due to the reported communications occurring before the official start of free agency on July 1.
Even though the Blackhawks didn’t directly contact Bertuzzi, reaching out from other teams can be considered forbidden. One could interpret Foligno’s call as representative of the organization, as it was intended to discuss the possibility of Bertuzzi joining the team, which reportedly sparked his interest. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that any specific terms were violated or that their conversation went beyond casual discussion between friends.
Nevertheless, the NHL aims to prevent situations where tampering is overt, particularly when players are still under contract. As Friedman pointed out, “The league doesn’t need a complaint to act. When Toronto signed John Tavares, it was investigated — and cleared — without the Islanders asking.” If the NHL determines that further scrutiny is necessary, they will conduct a closer examination.
It remains to be seen what penalties, if any, Bertuzzi could face; potential actions could range from a public reprimand to more serious consequences like a fine or suspension.
