[Rumour] Bertuzzi to Retire

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by PegCityFlamesFan

Never recovered from that Steve Moore garbage.

What a coincidence. Neither did Steve Moore.

[FAN]

Bertuzzi was actually fun to watch in his prime. One of the most dominant powerforwards in his prime. He hit hard.

What Bertuzzi did was wrong and stupid. But let's not forget Steve Moore wasn't a contender for the Lady Byng either. Moore elbowed Naslund in the head. Naslund was Bertuzzi's best friend. Naslund was never the same player after that hit.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Dion

We all do things in life we regret but at the same time we can also make amends for things we have done. Bertuzzi could have settled out of court with Moore but chose instead to make Moore fight for years for what he deserved. That's not making amends.

Dion, it was far more complicated than that. There were multiple parties being sued by Moore, and rightfully, Bertuzzi had a right to go after Crawford as well, as I am pretty damn sure Bertuzzi was directed by him to deliver 'pay back'. Also Moore was swinging for the fence in his lawsuit. He wanted 68 million dollars. I get he was traumatized and permanently injured. But many people have been injured far worse, and had far more difficult lives from the negligence or wrong doing of another party, and never collected a cent. Was Moore entitled to millions? Yes. Was he entitled to $68 million? No. At least not in my opinion. And Bertuzzi fought it.

I am not for one second defending what Bertuzzi did. It was one of the most disgusting things in pro sports. But.... if a Calgary Flame delivered the same punishment on a player that elbowed Iginla or Gaudreau in the head, and it didn't result in a broken neck and end a career, this board would be cheering the actions of whoever delivered that payback. Commending him for getting dirty. Taking one for the team. Showing 'truculence'.

The issue wasn't with the action Bertuzzi took by attacking another player. It happens all the time in the NHL. The issue was the result, and that it finally caught up with the NHL, and a player almost died as a result. Without the injury to Moore, he would have got a 5 minute major, and maybe a couple games.

I met Todd once when he was playing here, and he was a very soft spoken, and humble guy. Had a good chat with him at a driving range for probably half an hour. He seemed nothing like the monster he is portrayed as. And was one of the nicest NHLers I have ever met. It really swayed my opinion of him.

[crapshoot]

Great player for quite a while, and he managed to make himself a decent career even after the incident. That's unfortunately more than you can say about Steve Moore. Anyway, I never had anything against Bertuzzi. Hope retirement will treat him well.

[Resolute 14]

Good riddance. For all the good that Darryl Sutter did here, he made two decisions that were completely unforgivable: He made it okay to trade with Edmonton, and he signed Todd Bertuzzi.

As a player, he was decent, but his best years were largely a product of old rules on interference and Naslund carrying him up to those two big seasons.

[btimbit]

Never liked him in Vancouver, especially after the incident, and it took him a few years to win me over but he did. Best of luck in retirement Todd.

[Burke Salad]

The only thing I hated about him during his Flames day's was the amount of boneheaded offensive zone penalties he took, and then proceeded to berate the referee's for his actions.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FAN

Bertuzzi was actually fun to watch in his prime. One of the most dominant powerforwards in his prime. He hit hard.

What Bertuzzi did was wrong and stupid. But let's not forget Steve Moore wasn't a contender for the Lady Byng either. Moore elbowed Naslund in the head. Naslund was Bertuzzi's best friend. Naslund was never the same player after that hit.

Go back and watch the video, the elbow was tucked, Naslund was stretched for the puck and Moore hit him. It wasn't a dirty hit by any means. Bertuzzi and Crawford especially should have never been allowed another game in the NHL.

He acted like a scumbag pure and simple, a thug a punk and a dirtbag.

Good riddance, he won't be missed, he can have all of the skill in the world, who cares, what he did was reprehensible. And his phony apology to the media, and his insulting low ball offer. The guy never ever made an effort to make things right.

So long terminal Todd, get lost, you were a disgrace and you are dismissed.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

The only thing I hated about him during his Flames day's was the amount of boneheaded offensive zone penalties he took, and then proceeded to berate the referee's for his actions.

The site I pulled the stats from is long gone, but Bertuzzi as a Flame made nearly every teammate worse when he was on the ice. I think everyone on the roster save three or four players scored less and were scored on more when they were on the ice with Bertuzzi than when separated. Some people just became enamored with him because he scored 7 goals in his first 12 games, then glossed over the fact that he managed only 8 more in the final 70.

[Resolute 14]

MOD EDIT: No insults please. Just discuss the topic.

[FlamesAddiction]

Nothing excuses what Bertuzzi did. Whether or not Moore's hit was dirty is a pointess debate. Personally, I do think Moore was trying to take advantage of Naslund's awkward positioning and he was a bit of a sneaky and nasty player in his own right, but it really doesn't diminish what Bertuzzi did.

I actually do think that Bertuzzi was legitimately sorry and he changed his game and attitude in the following years to reflect that, but that black mark is still his to wear. I have stopped holding it against him, but I can understand others still haven't let go. It was a terrible thing that he did.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Good riddance. For all the good that Darryl Sutter did here, he made two decisions that were completely unforgivable: He made it okay to trade with Edmonton, and he signed Todd Bertuzzi.

As a player, he was decent, but his best years were largely a product of old rules on interference and Naslund carrying him up to those two big seasons.

Might as well add Iginla to that 'unforgivable' list too, because it's well documented that Iggy was the one who pushed hard for Bertuzzi to sign here. Bertuzzi had a decent season here and was a playmaker the team needed in the top 6. His giveaways sucked, but he also single-handedly won us a bunch of games in the shootout.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Some people just became enamored with him because he scored 7 goals in his first 12 games, then glossed over the fact that he managed only 8 more in the final 70.

Bert only played 66 games that season. Had he played those missing 16 games and continued to score at the rate he was, he'd probably have had 20+ goals and over 50 points. For 1.9 million that's pretty great value.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Good riddance. For all the good that Darryl Sutter did here, he made two decisions that were completely unforgivable: He made it okay to trade with Edmonton, and he signed Todd Bertuzzi.

As a player, he was decent, but his best years were largely a product of old rules on interference and Naslund carrying him up to those two big seasons.

Let us not forget Bryan Marchment either, what a disgrace.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Might as well add Iginla to that 'unforgivable' list too, because it's well documented that Iggy was the one who pushed hard for Bertuzzi to sign here. Bertuzzi had a decent season here and was a playmaker the team needed in the top 6. His giveaways sucked, but he also single-handedly won us a bunch of games in the shootout.

Lets not, actually. Darryl Sutter was the man who signed the contracts, not Iginla. Lame attempt at deflection was lame.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Lets not, actually. Darryl Sutter was the man who signed the contracts, not Iginla. Lame attempt at deflection was lame.

Don't pretend Iginla didn't have any pull on certain UFAs who signed here. Sutter signed the doted lines, but Iginla certainly had a say.

[CsInMyBlood]

My favorite thing about Bertuzzi being a Flame is when he said he waited by the phone all summer for a call from Darryl to re-sign him in Calgary.

The call never came.

Addition by subtraction at its finest.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I have stopped holding it against him, but I can understand others still haven't let go.

For me it's not about 'letting things go', I would want any player who pulled what he did to be gone from the league. Bertuzzi, any Flame, a scrub in Carolina, doesn't matter. He ended a player's career with an intentional, stupid play. We all do stupid things in life and have to pay the price for it.

I don't hate Bert, maybe he's an awesome guy off the ice. But for me if any player ends another player's career in that fashion they don't deserve the right to continue to play in the NHL.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Might as well add Iginla to that 'unforgivable' list too, because it's well documented that Iggy was the one who pushed hard for Bertuzzi to sign here. Bertuzzi had a decent season here and was a playmaker the team needed in the top 6. His giveaways sucked, but he also single-handedly won us a bunch of games in the shootout.

Bert only played 66 games that season. Had he played those missing 16 games and continued to score at the rate he was, he'd probably have had 20+ goals and over 50 points. For 1.9 million that's pretty great value.

I liked him enough as a Flame, but it was really frustrating how he would always be caught on the offside. So many plays died with him because his timing was terrible.

[darthma]

When he was a Flame there wasn't much talk of 'the incident'. Just fans cheering him on. I liked him as a Flame, and appreciate that he wanted to stay. It was especially fun watching him in the shootout. He has such soft hands. Best of luck post-hockey, Bert!