Todd Bertuzzi

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size= 225px
team = Calgary Flames
former_teams = Anaheim Ducks
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Vancouver Canucks
New York Islanders
league = NHL
position = Right Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 245
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1975|2|2
birth_place = Sudbury, ON, CAN
draft = 23rd overall
draft_year = 1993
draft_team = New York Islanders
career_start = 1995

Todd Bertuzzi (born 2 February, 1975 in Sudbury, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League. Most notably, he has played with the Vancouver Canucks earlier in his career, with whom he enjoyed his most successful seasons, but also infamously assaulted Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore in an on-ice incident in 2004. In his prime, he was a world-class power forward and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2003.

In addition to Calgary and Vancouver, Bertuzzi has also played for the New York Islanders, with whom he was first drafted (23rd overall in 1993), the Florida Panthers, and the Detroit Red Wings, and the Anaheim Ducks. Internationally, he has competed for Team Canada in the 1998 and 2000 World Championships, as well as in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Bertuzzi played major junior in the OHL for the Guelph Storm beginning in 1991-92. Drafted in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, 23rd overall, he returned to the OHL for two more seasons. In his last season with Guelph, he recorded 119 points – sixth overall in the league – as well as 33 points in 14 playoff games en route to an OHL Finals loss to the Detroit Junior Red Wings.

After nearly earning a Memorial Cup appearance in 1995, Bertuzzi made his NHL debut the next season. In his rookie campaign with the Islanders, he managed 18 goals and 39 points. He scored his first NHL goal on October 7, 1995, against Blaine Lacher of the Boston Bruins in the first game ever played at the Bruins' Fleet Center. [citeweb|title=New Top Line Shows Promise for Islanders|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5D81739F93BA35753C1A963958260|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1995-10-08] However, for the next two seasons, Bertuzzi struggled to progress and spent 13 games of his sophomore season in the IHL with the Islanders affiliate Utah Grizzlies. About three quarters into the 1997-98 season, he was packaged with Bryan McCabe to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Trevor Linden and a third round draft choice in 1998 (Jarkko Ruutu).

Bertuzzi immediately began producing in Vancouver after the trade, tallying 15 points in just 22 games to complete the season. However, after beginning the 1998-99 season on the Canucks top line, [citeweb|title=Injury-Prone Canucks Lose Mogilny|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/11/22/archive/main23282.shtml|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=1998-11-22|publisher=CBS Sports] he was limited to just 32 games after suffering a fractured tibia in November and a second injury near the end of the season.

Bouncing back from an injury-plagued season, Bertuzzi emerged as one of the Canucks' prime contributors, finishing with 25 goals (second on the team only to Markus Naslund) in 1999-00. At the end of the season, he was awarded the team's Most Exciting Player Award, as voted by the fans. He would receive the award three more times during his stint with the Canucks.

After receiving an automatic 10-game suspension in October 2001 for leaving the bench to fight, Bertuzzi broke out with linemates Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison as what was widely considered as the league's most effective line, [citeweb|last=Johnson|first=George|title=Naslund driving towards 50 - and the Hart|url=http://espn.go.com/nhl/columns/johnson_george/1530723.html|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-06-04] [citeweb|last=Samuelson|first=Karl|title=Chemistry lesson works in Vancouver|url=http://www.nhl.com/intheslot/read/indepth/Naslund/line.html|publisher=NHL.com|accessdate=2008-06-04] colloquially known as the "West Coast Express" (after the local train system). Despite missing 10 games, Bertuzzi finished 2001-02 third in league scoring with 85 points, behind linemate Markus Naslund and Jarome Iginla. The following season, he posted career-highs with 46 goals (third in the league), 51 assists and 97 points (fifth in the league), appeared in his first NHL All-Star Game and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team.

Following an impressive season, Bertuzzi signed a four-year $27.8 million contract extension with the Canucks making him the highest paid player in team history. [citeweb|title=Bodacious Bertuzzi bolstered by big bucks|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031028/KERR28|publisher=Globe and Mail|accessdate=2008-07-12|date=2003-10-23] Perhaps Bertuzzi's most career-defining moment unfortunately occurred near the end of the 2003-04 campaign. On March 8, 2004, Bertuzzi retaliated to a Steve Moore hit on Markus Naslund in a previous game by sucker-punching him from behind late in the third period. Moore was severely injured and Bertuzzi was subsequently suspended indefinitely, finishing with 60 points on the season. Prior to the incident, he was voted in as an All-Star Game starter for the first and only time in his career.

Inactive in 2004-05 due to the lockout and his ongoing suspension, Bertuzzi returned in 2005-06 and managed 71 points. However, it was clear that the effects of the Steve Moore incident, which included assault charges and constant media coverage, lingered. Playing on the road, he was consistently heckled and booed by fans throughout the NHL. [citeweb|last=Diamos|first=Jason|title=Rangers almost measure up with Canucks|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/sports/hockey/14rangers.html?n=Top/News/Sports/Hockey/National%20Hockey%20League/Vancouver%20Canucks|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=2005-12-14] [citeweb|title=Canada names Bertuzzi to Olympic team|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/sports/hockey/22olympics.html?pagewanted=print|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=2005-12-22] [citeweb|title=Great and ghastly|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Edmonton/2005/10/09/1255331-sun.html|publisher=CANOE|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=2005-10-09]

Realizing the necessity of a fresh start for Bertuzzi as well as the club (it was considered that Bertuzzi's situation was a distraction for the Canucks [citeweb|title=Oilers may lose Pronger, Canucks trade Bertuzzi|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060624/bertuzzi_trade_060624/20060624?hub=Canada|publisher=CTV.ca|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=2006-06-24] ), general manager Dave Nonis shopped him around in the summer and traded him to the Florida Panthers. In a blockbuster deal, he was packaged with goaltender Alex Auld and defenceman Bryan Allen for superstar Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and a sixth round draft-pick on June 23, 2006.Cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2498872|title=Canucks swap Bertuzzi for Luongo in multiplayer deal|accessdate=2007-11-21|year=2006] After seven full seasons with the Canucks, Bertuzzi ranked seventh all-time among franchise scoring leaders with 449 (as of 2007-08, still ranked seventh).

Bertuzzi scored a goal in his Panthers debut against Boston on October 6, 2006, but experiencing back spasms early in the 2006-07 season, Bertuzzi opted for surgery on November 2, 2006 that would sideline him for at least twelve to sixteen weeks. Playing just 7 games for Florida, his debut goal was the only one he ever scored for the Panthers. As Bertuzzi's contract was set to expire at the end of the his first season with the Panthers, he was sent to Cup contenders Detroit at the trade deadline for prospect Shawn Matthias and conditional draft picks.Cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ap7m75vJcxQLYKcS06LS5N57vLYF?slug=ap-redwings-bertuzzi&prov=ap&type=lgns|title=Red Wings add toughness with Bertuzzi in trade with Panthers|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=Yahoo.com|year=2007|author=Lage, Larry] Bertuzzi and the Red Wings advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, and Bertuzzi's next team, the Anaheim Ducks.

On July 2, 2007, Bertuzzi signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Anaheim Ducks as an unrestricted free agent. This reunited him with Brian Burke, who was the Canucks' general manager during Bertuzzi's tenure in Vancouver. Playing in 68 games, he managed 40 points with Anaheim. However, as Burke required more cap space to re-sign core players in the off season,citeweb|title=Ducks place Todd Bertuzzi on waivers|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/06/27/bertuzzi-ducks.html|publisher=CBC Sports|accessdate=2008-07-07|date=2008-06-27] Bertuzzi was placed on waivers. He would sign a one-year, $1.95 million deal on July 7, 2008, with the Calgary Flames, [citeweb|title=Flames sign Bertuzzi for one year|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/07/flames-sign-bertuzzi-one-year/|accessdate=2008-09-12|date=2008-07-07|publisher=Associated Press] reuniting him with Mike Keenan, the general manager who traded for him in Florida.

Before the start of the 2008–09 season, Bertuzzi switched jersey numbers from 4 to 7, in honour of his boyhood idol, Phil Esposito. [Citeweb|title=Bertuzzi honours Espo with number selection|url=http://www.faceoff.com/story.html?id=2e9b304a-c85b-46e6-84fe-0c8f9e8df031&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Ftopstories.atom|accessdate=2008-09-12|date=2008-09-10|publisher=CanWest News Service] The numbers 44 (which Bertuzzi wore for the majority of his career) and the number 4 he wore in Anaheim were already taken in Calgary by Rhett Warrener and Jim Vandermeer.

teve Moore incident

On February 16, 2004, during a Vancouver-Colorado game, Avalanche center Steve Moore injured Canucks team captain Markus Näslund by checking him in the head area after play had stopped while Näslund was reaching for a puck ahead of him with his head down. Näslund, the league's leading scorer at the time, suffered a minor concussion and a bonechip in his elbow as a result of the hit, knocking him out of the lineup for three games. Referee Dan Marouelli did not call a penalty, which drew the ire of many Canucks, but the league ruled that Marouelli was correct by judging the hit legal, bearing no punishment.

Canucks head coach Marc Crawford publicly criticized the non-call, claiming that Marouelli and his partner, Rob Martell, needed to show "respect" for the league's leading scorer. General manager Brian Burke, the league's former chief disciplinarian, called the play "a headhunting hit."Cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/canucks/2004-02-17-naslund-concussion_x.htm|title=Naslund gets his bell rung|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=USAToday.com|year=2004|author=Mossman, John] Several Canucks players also issued a "bounty" on Moore's head," [Kramer, Irwin [http://legalnews.tv/commentary/vigilantes_on_ice_20040315.html Vigilantes on Ice] Legal Television Network. March 15, 2004.] implying that they intended to retaliate.

During another Vancouver-Colorado game three weeks after the Naslund hit, on March 8 2004, Canucks forward Matt Cooke fought Moore in the first period. Then, late in the third period, Bertuzzi began following Moore down the ice and tried to start a fight. When Moore ignored him, Bertuzzi grabbed hold of Moore's jersey, and punched Moore in the side of the head from behind. Bertuzzi, as well as several other players from both teams, then landed atop Moore as Moore fell to the ice.Cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/20/news_story/?ID=105931&hubname=tsn20|title=Todd Bertuzzi attacks Steve Moore |accessdate=2007-03-12|publisher=tsn.ca|year=2004] Cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1756628|title=Suspension amounts to minimum 17 games|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=ESPN.com|year=2004]

After lying on the ice for several minutes, Moore was removed on a stretcher. He suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a grade three concussion, vertebral ligament damage, stretching of the brachial plexus nerves, and facial cuts. To date, Moore has not appeared in another professional hockey game.

Aftermath

On 10 March, 2004, Bertuzzi scheduled a press conference where he emotionally apologized, in tears, to Moore and his family, as well as to Burke, Canucks owner John McCaw, the Canucks organization, his teammates, and the fans.Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/3500574.stm|title=NHL bans Bertuzzi|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=BBC.co.uk|year=2004]

Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, and lost approximately $500,000 in cash. The Vancouver Canucks were also fined $250,000, on 11 March, 2004 for "...failure to prevent the atmosphere that may have led to [the incident] ."

Although Bertuzzi had played in a charity game in Vancouver that was arranged during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) had extended his suspension to cover their jurisdiction. This meant that Bertuzzi could not play hockey in Europe during the lockout. It was felt that in the European leagues, Bertuzzi would have drawn too much negative publicity.

On 24 June, 2004, the criminal justice branch of the British Columbia Ministry of the Attorney General announced that Bertuzzi was formally charged with "assault causing bodily harm". On 22 December, 2004 Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to the assault charge after arranging a plea bargain with prosecutors. He was given a conditional discharge and one year's probation. (Under Canadian law, Bertuzzi's successful completion of the probation means he has no criminal record from the incident.)Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/12/22/bertuzzi_guilty041222.html|title=Bertuzzi receives conditional discharge, probation|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=CBC.ca|year=2004]

On February 17, 2005, Bertuzzi was named in a lawsuit filed by Moore, who has not played at all since the injury. Also named were Brad May (who was quoted as saying that there would "definitely be a price on Moore's head" after the game), Brian Burke and the Canucks team. The lawsuit was thrown out in October 2005, as the Colorado judge felt that British Columbia was a better venue for the suit. Moore plans to appeal the lawsuit.Cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=142413&hubname=nhl|title=Moore plans to file appeal in civil case|accessdate=2007-11-21]

On August 8, 2005, the NHL announced that Bertuzzi would be allowed to play again at the start of the 2005-06 NHL season.Cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/08/232342.html|title=NHL reinstates Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=NHL.com|year=2005] In the league's decision, they cited many reasons for ending the suspension, such as:
*Bertuzzi serving a suspension of 20 games, which at the time tied for 4th longest in NHL history (13 regular season games, 7 playoff games)Cite web|url=http://proicehockey.about.com/cs/history/a/nhl_suspensions.htm|title=The Longest NHL Suspensions|accessdate=2007-11-21|author=Fitzpatrick, Jamie]
*Bertuzzi's repeated attempts to apologize to Mr. Moore personally
*Bertuzzi's forfeited salary ($501,926.39 USD)
*Lost endorsements (approximately $350,000.00 USD)
*Significant uncertainty, anxiety, stress and emotional pain caused to Bertuzzi's family
*The commissioner's belief that Bertuzzi was genuinely remorseful and apologetic for his actions

On August 15, 2005, Bertuzzi broke his 17-month-long silence by once again admitting to his mistake and expressing a desire to move on with his life. "I'm sure just like Steve Moore and his family, it's been difficult for both parties. I know I wish that day never happened. It's been some tough times, but I've got good family and good friends and good peers in the league that have helped me get over the hump and move forward and come through it."Cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2134946|title=Bertuzzi: 'I wish that day never happened'|accessdate=2007-02-27|publisher=ESPN.com|year=2005]

On November 8 2005, Moore's Toronto-based lawyer, Tim Danson, said that Moore was skating and doing regular workouts, but continued to suffer concussion-related symptoms.Cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=142413&hubname=nhl|title=Moore plans to file appeal in civil case|accessdate=2007-11-21]

On February 16, 2006, Moore filed a civil suit in the province of Ontario against Bertuzzi, the Canucks, and the parent company of the Canucks, "Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment". He is seeking CAD$15 million in pecuniary damages for loss of income, CAD$1 million for aggravated damages, and CAD$2 million for punitive damages. Moore's parents Jack and Anna, who were watching their son on television when the attack happened, are also suing, seeking CAD$1.5 million for "for negligent infliction of nervous shock and mental distress." [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/icehockey/stories/index.shtml?/story/olympics/national/2006/02/15/Sports/bertuzzi060215.html CBC.CA - Torino 2006 ] ] There was some question in the media as to the timing of the lawsuit, which was filed shortly after the first game in the Olympics for Team Canada and Bertuzzi, but Moore's lawyer Tim Danson said, "There's nothing to the timing other than the fact that there's a limitation period." [ [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140043816861&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064 TheStar.com - Page Not Found ] ] The statute of limitations he referred was based on linking the charges to the Näslund hit, and thus expired on February 17 2006.

As of December 15, 2006, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is attempting to get Bertuzzi and Moore to agree on an out-of-court settlement in the CAD$19.5 million lawsuit filed by Moore. [ [http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/9873254 Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby, National Hockey League - CBSSports.com ] ] Bertuzzi offered $350,000 to settle the case, an amount which was called "an insult" by Moore's lawyer.Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/273827|title=Bertuzzi offered Moore $350,000|accessdate=2007-11-21|year=2007|author=Westhead, Rick]

On March 28, 2008, Bertuzzi filed a lawsuit against Crawford, alleging that he was contractually obliged to obey Crawford and that therefore Crawford shares responsibility for the injury to Moore. [citeweb|title=Crawford brought into Moore lawsuit|url=http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080328.wsptbert28/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2008-03-28|publisher=Globe and Mail] In response, Crawford later stated that Bertuzzi acted in "direct disobedience" to orders from the bench to get off the ice before attacking Moore. [citeweb|title=Bertuzzi acted in 'direct disobedience': Crawford|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/08/19/nhl-bertuzzi-crawford.html|publisher=CBC Sports|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2008-08-19]

Personal

Bertuzzi has a wife, Julie, a son named Tag and a daughter named Jaden. [cite news | url = http://www.canada.com/national/features/raiseareader/story.html?id=3728e46c-bd3b-4261-a021-d322355cabed | title = Bertuzzis know kids' path to success made richer by reading | last = Woodend | first = Dorothy | publisher = Vancouver Sun | date = 2002-10-03 | accessdate = 2008-04-15] He also has a male Boxer dog named Dig.

Awards and achievements

*OHL Second All-Star Team - 1995
*NHL First All-Star Team - 2003
*NHL All-Star Game - 2003, 2004 (starter)
*Most Exciting Player Award (Vancouver Canucks) - 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
*Seventh overall in Vancouver Canucks all-time franchise scoring - 449 points in 518 games

Career statistics

International play

Bertuzzi debuted internationally for Team Canada in 1998, playing at the World Championships in Switzerland. In 6 games, he managed 3 points, but Canada failed to qualify for the medal rounds and finished sixth. Two years later, in 2000, Bertuzzi appeared once more at the 2000 World Championships in Russia. A more productive World Championships for Bertuzzi, he scored 9 points in 9 games – first in team scoring and fourth overall – but he would not medal once more, falling to Finland in the semi-final.

In 2006, Bertuzzi was controversially selected to play for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. His inclusion, along with that of Dany Heatley and Shane Doan, was discussed at length by the Canadian Olympic Committee. The committee had concerns stemming from the Steve Moore incident and Bertuzzi's probationary status,Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051221/hockey051221/20051222?hub=CTVNewsAt11|title=Canadian Olympic Committee approves Bertuzzi|accessdate=2007-11-21|year=2005] but subsequently approved his representation of Canada at the Olympic games. According to a Canadian Press article, " [COC president] Chambers said the [unusual meeting] was prompted by some media concerns raised over the three athletes participating in the Games. The fact it took the committee so long to approve the list means there was some debate."Cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=147944&hubname=nhl|title=COC approves Men's hockey roster|accessdate=2007-11-21|year=2005]

Controversy behind him, Bertuzzi posted 3 assists and a +1 rating in 6 games. However, Canada failed to advance past the quarterfinals, losing to Russia, and finished in seventh place overall, failing to defend its gold medal in 2002. It also marked Bertuzzi's third medal-less international tournament.

International statistics

Transactions

* June 26, 1993 - Drafted 23rd overall, in the first round, by the New York Islanders
* February 6, 1998 - Traded to the Vancouver Canucks from the New york Islanders with Bryan McCabe and a 3rd round choice in 1998 (Jarkko Ruutu) for Trevor Linden
*October 27, 2003 - Signed a four-year $27.8 million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks
* March 8, 2004 - Suspended indefinitely by the NHL for deliberate injury to Steve Moore in a game versus the Colorado Avalanche
* August 8, 2005 - Officially reinstated by the NHL
* June 23, 2006 - Traded to the Florida Panthers by the Vancouver Canucks with Bryan Allen and Alex Auld for Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and a 6th round draft choice in 2006 (Sergei Shirokov)
* February 27, 2007 - Traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the Florida Panthers for prospect Shawn Matthias and conditional draft picks
* July 2, 2007 - Signed a two-year $8 million contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Anaheim Ducks
* June 28, 2008 - Placed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks
* July 7, 2008 - Signed a one-year $1.95 million contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Calgary Flames

Notes and references

External links

*hockeydb|369
* [http://www.evalu8.org/staticpage?page=review&siteid=7133 Fines issued]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2004/12/22/Sports/bertuzzi_guilty041222.html Bertuzzi pleads guilty, probation]