kdhoffma

June 16th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^

I know he has his detractors, but he was a solid contributer last year who played in every regular season and post season game.  Another big body for the corners and in front of the net... still has great hands for his size.

FitzTou10

June 17th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^

I don't know how familiar you are with the situation but Moore caused the whole thing. I don't think nhe deserved a broken neck but he deserved to be beaten. Moore was taking shots at Vancouver's star player and captain, Marcus Naslund. This is ok to go after a star but you have to be ready to back it up and fight when people start coming after you. Moore wouldn't fight anyone, knowing he would be destroyed, and continued after Naslund.

GOBLUE4EVR

June 17th, 2010 at 7:32 AM ^

WTF, buddy???  bertuzzi didn't take responsibiltiy for his actions??? it was a while ago but i do remember watching the press conference on TSN and i'm pretty sure that he showed nothing but remorse for what happened that night... if anything that incident changed the way that bertuzzi played hockey... and again bertuzzi wasn't the main reason why moores neck got broken... i think they other 7 guys that jumped on 2 of them after they hit the ice might have helped with the breaking of moores neck....

Blue in Yarmouth

June 17th, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^

Seriously? How has he not taken responsibility?

I have heard this foolishness about Bertuzzi long enough and it is really bullshit. Hockey is a sport where fighting occurs on a fairly frequent basis. I am not going to sit here and say that Moore deserved what he got, it was a terrible outcome. The problem I have is the way people keep bagging on Bertuzzi like he had a master plan with the end result being a broken neck for Moore.

If Moore doesn't break his neck or get another serious injury Bertuzzi gets 5 and a game misconduct. It was a freak accident that no one could have foreseen happening.

I feel bad for the guy, but it is time for everyone to get over this.

clarkiefromcanada

June 17th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^

We both played the game here in Canada and you are right, hockey is a sport where fighting occurs on a fairly frequent basis. Moore didn't deserve what he got...where I have the problem is that rather than offer Steve Moore a reasonable compensation for ending the guy's career he offered $350 000...

It's easy to say your sorry but Bertuzzi's actions have not been congruent with his words. He ended the guy's ability to make his livelihood and for that he has some responsibility.

Beyond this, Moore's refusal to fight isn't different than about every other instigator in the league. The fact that Brad May has said there was a bounty on Moore is what precipitated Bertuzzi's actions. Lots of guys get bad hits, dirty hits and their teams aren't jumping the guy the next game.

You know the deal on the ice...you fight a guy if he faces you. If he skates away he's a punk but you don't jump him. That's always the code.

soupsnake

June 16th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^

Yeah, I guess that could be why. I'm sure he'll be better next year after spending all of last season learning a new style of play. I just can't imagine that he wouldn't have signed on for the same price as last year. I would rather see some of the younger guys like Helm get a raise.

Clarence Beeks

June 16th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^

You're just speculating like everyone else.  It still hasn't been announced yet what the cap is going to do.

Let's just say it's going to be a $58M cap for the sake of argument.  That in no way, shape or form puts them in "great shape capwise".  If it goes up to $58M that still leaves them them less than $4M to deal with Helm, Abdelkader and Lilija, which doesn't address the problems on defense at all.

This is really one of those situations where it's OK to wonder out loud what Ken Holland was thinking because this deal is too much money and one year too long, in my opinion.

Trepps

June 17th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^

They essentially just blew their available cap space on a charmin soft power forward who hasn't scored 20 goals in half a decade.  Whatever is left is already ear-marked for their restricted free agents and Hudler.  They have no more cap room and the same team that couldn't get it done last year. 

mstier

June 17th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^

You're kidding yourself if you think Wings will get Helm, Abdelkader, and a defenseman worth noting for 2.5 million.  Helm is probably around 1.2 and Abdelkader could be had for 0.8 mil.  But the Wings need a real defenseman, not some scrub.  I still think they need to look at Colaiacovo.  He's going to be a good value in this market I feel. 

Clarence Beeks

June 17th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^

Colaiacovo will probably be out of their price range now.  That's the damage that this deal does.  It essentially means that they are resigned to going into next season with Kindl in the top six and someone who is probably not very good at all as the seventh.  One big issue that will probably arise later, though, is that they will be tied right up close to the cap from the very start of the season which will give them no ability to do anything at the deadline if it's needed.

FitzTou10

June 17th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

Bettman said the cap would rise $2 mil if the players' union activates the 5% inflator. This would make the cap 58.8. They have 54.2 committed giving them 4.6 to sign Helm, Abdelkader, another forward, and a defenceman. Helm + Abdelkader + D man= 2.5 mil. This leaves about 2 mil for another forward or they can sign both Miller and Eaves and carry 14 forwards.

Monocle Smile

June 16th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^

I hate how people give him the "thug" tag on the same level as Pronger, and he's deserved this reputation everywhere except Detroit. When he wears the red jersey, he changes his game. He plays more like a hockey player here than a football player on skates like he tends to do elsewhere.

I know, "sucker punch" and shit I don't condone still pisses me off at times, but I'm a Bertuzzi fan even if I only own a Darren Helm jersey.

Mr. Robot

June 16th, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^

Never understood why people get all worked up over Bertuzzi. He screwed up big time with that sucked punch, but he's done everything he can to try and make up for it. He's apologized up and down like its going out of style and, if I recall, has been good about making sure he ponied up for damages. People really need to get over it.

Plus, he's a solid player. He did a good job this year (As good as you can playing that position on the same team as Holmstrom), and I'm glad he's coming back. The man deserves a Cup in Hockeytown, IMHO.

JeepinBen

June 17th, 2010 at 8:23 AM ^

involve the fact that because he was attacked he can no longer play hockey in the NHL. So all of his salary/benefits/etc. that he would have gotten playing pro hockey are rightfully in the suit.

I wonder if wings fans on this board would similarly defend Tropp if he played for the wings. The hits/situations/results were pretty similar, except Kampfer could play again after and Moore cant. 

They were both deliberate attempts to injure, attacks on a defenseless player's head. 

 

That said, in terms of the future, Bertuzzi is an integral part for the wings, hockey teams need the 240+ lb guy now. Every team that wants to make a run needs one, if only for matching up with the other teams that have one. Look no further than what Byfuglien did to the Canucks. If you don't have a 240+lber, the teams with one will destroy you 

Blue in Yarmouth

June 17th, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^

People fight in hockey without it being a "beliberate attempt to injure". If you think otherwise you don't know hockey at all.

If you look at the tape you will see that moore is trying to skate away from Bertuzzi because he doesn't want to finish something he started in a game that was played previously. He is skating away and Bertuzzi is hanging onto his shoulder trying to get him to stop and face the music.

It becomes evident that he won't so bertuzzi throws a realitively week shot from behind and grabs onto him and they fall to the ice. Bertuzzi has his hand on the guys neck and gives him a little extra as they go down.

This whole event could have been avoided if Moore had the balls to step up and take the beating he had coming to him, but he didn't. I can't stand Matt Cooke (of the penguins) but he gave a guy c cheap shot and the next time the teams played he fought the best fighter on that team, knowing he was going to get his ass kicked because that's what hockey players do.

I am not saying Moore deserved a borken neck, but inferring that Bertuzzi meant for this to happen is beyond insane. I can think of at least 100 better ways to break a guys neck than sucker punching him from behind.

 

Edit: and Moore didn't have to be defenseless, he brought that on himself by trying to skate away from the fight.

Also, lets not make Moore more than he was, which was a player who was never going to be superstar making huge money. Honestly he would likely have had a 10-15 year career making maybe $1 million per year or a little more. That doesn't equate 38 million in my books, not even close.

JeepinBen

June 17th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^

I know hockey players fight, this wasnt a fight. Look at the pictures I posted above. Hockey players who fight dont run people down from behind and punch them in the back of the head then drive them to the ice. 

If Bertuzzi got in front of Moore and then hit him with the exact same result I'd agree with you, but as much as it sucks, even hockey players run away from fights all the time.  

Blue in Yarmouth

June 17th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^

I saw the fight live on TV and many times since on replay. I know what happened and he didn't "run him down". They were skating next to eachother talking and Moore was trying to run away. Bertuzzi was holding on his shoulder for at least three strides before he threw the punch.

To say hockey players run away from fights all the time is only accurate when discussing the pansies in the league, most don't. As I stated, even Matt Cooke, who is one of the more hated players in the NHL (and isn't a fighter as much as an instigator) tooks his lumps against the toughest player on the opposing team after he gave one of their players a cheap shot.

I have followed hockey for over 30 years and of all the cheapshots I have seen, this wouldn't even rate in the top 20. It is the result that has so many people pissed off, make no mistake about it. That result was most certainly not intended, and couldn't have ever been forseen.

mstier

June 17th, 2010 at 12:50 AM ^

His play declined significantly in the second half of the season.  Based on this, I expected a one year deal at most with an equal or lower salary than last year.  I'm scratching my head on this one.

Trepps

June 17th, 2010 at 1:03 AM ^

the lose in the 2nd round because your so-called power forward doesn't know how to hit anyone puzzle or the disappear for long stretches and play no defense puzzle?  Seriously the guy has done nothing noteworthy in 5 years. 

 

The only reason Holland signed Bert is Kenny can't say no to signing anyone who has ever worn the winged wheel for any period of time.  I expect Gerry Gallant and Harold Snepps to be resigned soon. 

FitzTou10

June 17th, 2010 at 1:58 AM ^

...Carry the team when everyone else is hurt puzzle and put up good numbers in the playoffs puzzle. And this piece only costs $1.9 mil. No one else who puts up 44 points can be had on the free agent market for $1.9. Last year Samuelsson got 3 yrs $7.5 mil and put up 40 points. There's a good reason to re-sign your players and Holland knows it. They're a better deal and you have no competing offers when your trying to sign your own player.

HarryPotterDies

June 17th, 2010 at 2:23 AM ^

I agree in the sense that ~2 mil for a 20/20 guy is very reasonable. Whether it was the right move for the Wings is another story. I tend to like it - he's durable and has never scored under 40 points in a season.

Trepps

June 17th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^

nor did he put up good play-off numbers.  He had 5 points in 1 blow-out game because Franzen went wild.  In half of their 12 play-off games he had ZERO points and only had more than 1 point in 2 games (including the 5 point aberration).  Players who can score 18 goals without hitting anyone or playing defense are a dime a dozen. 

FitzTou10

June 17th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

Bertuzzi scored 8 goals in 8 games when the Wings were missing players like Zetterberg, Filppula, Cleary, Kronwall, and Holmstrom. He was one of the only guys in the lineup that could score and came up huge during that stretch. He was the only reason they won games and stayed in it during that stretch. Not bad for a guy making $1.5 mil and now $1.9 mil. Also, he was 4th on the team in playoff points. There was a reason Franzen went wild in that game. Bertuzzi set 3 goals up and scored another himself. You can't just take away those points because it was in one game. Being fourth on the team in points and making under $2 mil is pretty good.

Clarence Beeks

June 17th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^

Samuelsson isn't a particularly good example.  He got that money because of what he could do (and did) in the future, not because he was a guy who put up 40 points.  He's a $2.5M cap hit who scored 30 goals.  That's a heck of a lot better value than Bertuzzi at $1.9M.

FitzTou10

June 17th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^

Samuelsson is a perfect example. Teams don't pay a 32 year old for potential. The Canucks expected, along with everyone else, him to be a 40 point guy like he was in Detroit. The going rate for a 20 20 guy is $2.5 mil. Bertuzzi is exactly that but was signed for $1.9. Pretty good bargain if you ask me.

TheDirtyD

June 17th, 2010 at 3:07 AM ^

the wings are in geat shape for the cap lebda is gone lilja is gone so is may abby and helm miller and eves are staying and combined i bet they get 3.8 mil for all of them. He has very good hands and he might play better knowing hes not going from team to team. Guys seem to play better knowing they have a home and the i like the wings look next year some more grit