On Wednesday, veteran NHL player Jason Strudwick recounted an entertaining story with Spittin’ Chiclets about his experiences with Todd Bertuzzi. He humorously reminisced about the times they would tease former Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund into treating them to lunch.
During Strudwick’s tenure with the Canucks, he formed a friendship with Bertuzzi as they shared hotel rooms while on the road. Their accommodations were typically adjacent to Naslund’s, which provided ample opportunity to playfully coerce the captain into buying them meals.
“Our rooms were always interconnected, so we’d swing open the door and jump right into wrestling matches. Bertuzzi and I probably had him outmatched by about 150 pounds. We’d charge in there and stuff him under the bed! He’d yell ‘Stop it, stop it,’ but our response was always that he needed to buy us lunch,” Strudwick explained.
Interestingly enough, despite being both a Hall of Famer and captain of the Canucks, Naslund was still subject to their lighthearted bullying regarding mealtime expenses. Over his career, Strudwick played in 631 NHL games where he tallied 13 goals and 40 assists for a total of 53 points.
Blackhawks GM Optimistic About Future
The Chicago Blackhawks are currently in a rebuilding phase; however, they have established a promising core centered around Connor Bedard. This offseason saw Chicago actively engaging in free agency by signing players like Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi. General manager Kyle Davidson emphasizes that their primary focus remains on developing talent through the draft while believing they possess a solid foundation moving forward.
“When I began outlining this vision a couple of years ago, my intent was always centered around drafting,” Davidson stated in an interview with The Athletic. “The foundation would be built through picks rather than trades or free-agent signings…
“Only time will reveal whether this vision holds merit; however, observing how earlier draft picks are progressing makes me incredibly optimistic about our direction” he continued. “This group is genuinely thrilled about what’s unfolding here in Chicago and where these players seem destined to take us towards creating something truly special.”
This coming season is still expected to see Chicago focused on rebuilding efforts but may potentially contend for playoff inclusion next year.
