Todd Bertuzzi Todd Bertuzzi ( born February 2 , 1975 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Known as a power forward , he has additionally played in the NHL for the New York Islanders , Vancouver Canucks , Florida Panthers , Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames . Selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft , he played at the junior level with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) for four seasons . In 1995 – 96 , he played his rookie season with the Islanders . After two - and - a - half seasons with the Islanders , he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks . Bertuzzi enjoyed the most successful seasons of his career with the Canucks - his longest tenured team in the NHL - including NHL First Team All - Star honours in 2003 . In March 2004 , Bertuzzi became infamous for his on - ice attack against Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore , punching him from behind in retaliation for an earlier hit by Moore against Bertuzzi ' s teammate Markus Näslund . He was suspended indefinitely by both the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) , but was reinstated in August 2006 . Bertuzzi was conditionally discharged in a British Columbia court and was sued by Moore in both Colorado and Ontario . Moore was forced to retire because of the injuries sustained in the on - ice attack . After seven - and - a - half seasons with Vancouver , Bertuzzi was dealt to the Florida Panthers , with whom he briefly played for until being traded again to the Red Wings . He then played single seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames before returning to Detroit in 2009 . Internationally , Bertuzzi has competed for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , as well as the 1998 and 2000 World Championships . Playing career . Guelph Storm ( 1991 – 95 ) . After playing for two minor hockey teams based out of Sudbury , Ontario in 1990 – 91 , Bertuzzi was selected in the first round ( fifth overall ) by the Guelph Storm in the 1991 Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) Priority Selection . His future coach with the Vancouver Canucks , Marc Crawford , passed on Bertuzzi during the draft while he was general manager of the Cornwall Royals ; he has recalled not selecting him due to " maturity issues " and that he was " a big kid who hadn ' t grown into his body yet . " Bertuzzi started his OHL career for Guelph in 1991 – 92 , recording 21 points over 42 games as a rookie . He missed the last 15 games of the regular season due to suspension as a result of kicking opposing defenceman Brad Barton during a contest between the Storm and Kitchener Rangers . After improving to 58 points over 60 games in 1992 – 93 , he was selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft . The NHL Central Scouting Bureau described Bertuzzi as a physical and strong player with good skating who checks hard and is offensively effective in close proximity to the net . Following his NHL draft , he underwent surgery for chipped bones in his left elbow in August 1993 . As a result , he was unable to participate in the Islanders ' training camp in September and was returned to the OHL . Playing in his third season for Guelph , he improved to 28 goals and 82 points over 61 games . Bertuzzi competed for an Islanders ' roster spot at their 1994 training camp , but was sent back to his junior team after going scoreless in three exhibition games . During his last campaign with Guelph in 1994 - 95 , he recorded 119 points – sixth overall in the league . His 54 goals established a single - season team record , beating Mike Prokopec ' s mark , set the previous year , by two goals . The Storm ' s forward tandem of Bertuzzi and Jeff O ' Neill , who finished fourth in league scoring , led the club to the best regular season record in the league . He went on to add a team - leading 33 points in 14 playoff games , en route to an OHL Finals loss to the Detroit Junior Red Wings . After four seasons with Guelph , he left the club ranked third all - time in career points with 280 , behind O ' Neill and Martin St . Pierre . New York Islanders ( 1995 – 98 ) . Two years after his draft , Bertuzzi and the Islanders had not yet been agreed to a contract . With Bertuzzi eligible to re - enter the draft if the Islanders did not sign him by July 7 , 1995 , general manager Don Maloney made it apparent that he would use the team ' s second overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft to select him again if a contract could not be agreed upon by the required date . Moments before the midnight deadline , the Islanders were able to sign Bertuzzi to a four - year , US $ 4 . 6 million contract . His agent , Pat Morris , had reportedly wanted a similar deal to that of fellow Islanders prospect Brett Lindros – a five - year , $ 6 . 7 million contract signed the previous summer . During training camp in September 1995 , Islanders head coach Mike Milbury heralded Bertuzzi as the team ' s best performing forward . Making his NHL debut on October 7 , 1995 , he scored a wrap around goal against goaltender Blaine Lacher in a 4 – 4 tie with the Boston Bruins . Beginning the season on the team ' s top line with Zigmund Palffy and Travis Green , Bertuzzi finished his rookie year with 18 goals and 39 points over 76 games . The following season , Bertuzzi recorded 23 points in 64 games . The Islanders did not qualify for the playoffs in either of his two full seasons with the club , ranking second - last in the Eastern Conference in 1995 – 96 and 1996 – 97 . Bertuzzi ' s playing style as a power forward resulted in comparisons to former Islander Clark Gillies . As a result , the club hired Gillies to personally mentor Bertuzzi . Failing to meet lofty expectations from the club , Gillies once said of Bertuzzi , " If you ' re built like a freight train , you can ' t drive around like a Volkswagen . " Feeling burdened with the pressure of playing up to the club ' s expectations while his offensive production diminished , he requested to be traded away at one point during the 1996 – 97 season . In response , Milbury , who had also taken over general manager duties the previous season , demoted Bertuzzi to the Islanders ' minor league affiliate , the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League ( IHL ) . Playing 13 games in the minors , he registered 10 points before being called back up to the NHL . During the 1997 – 98 campaign , he continued to score below his pace as a rookie . On February 6 , 1998 , he was traded along with defenceman Bryan McCabe and a third - round selection in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft ( Jarkko Ruutu ) to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for veteran forward Trevor Linden . The deal was made prior to the NHL ' s roster freeze in preparation for the 1998 Winter Olympics . Bertuzzi and McCabe had both been widely regarded as the players of the future for New York after their respective drafts in 1993 . While Milbury expressed regret at having to trade McCabe , relations between Bertuzzi and the club were strained . Welcoming the trade , Bertuzzi commented that " things weren ' t working out [ in New York ] . " Vancouver Canucks ( 1998 – 2006 ) . Bertuzzi immediately began producing with Vancouver , tallying 15 points in 22 games after the trade . Combined with his totals from New York , he finished with 23 points over 74 games in 1997 – 98 . Contrasting his strained relationship with Milbury in New York , Canucks head coach Mike Keenan has recalled his experience with Bertuzzi upon his arrival as positive : " He came as a young player and he was very open - minded about learning about the game . " Similar to the Islanders , Bertuzzi joined a struggling club in Vancouver ; the team finished last in the Western Conference in his first two seasons after the trade . After beginning the 1998 – 99 season on the Canucks ' top line , Bertuzzi was limited to 32 games due to injuries , the first of which was a fractured tibia . He suffered the injury on November 1 , 1998 , after a shot by teammate Mattias Öhlund hit him in the leg . His season was later ended with a torn anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) in his left knee , suffered during a game on March 5 , 1999 . He recorded 8 goals and 16 points in 1998 – 99 . In the off - season , Bertuzzi became a restricted free agent and was re - signed by the Canucks to a two - year contract in September 1999 . The deal was reported by " The Vancouver Sun " to be worth a little over $ 2 million . Returning from injury the following season , Bertuzzi emerged as one of the Canucks ' best offensive contributors , finishing with 25 goals ( second on the team to Markus Näslund ) and 50 points in 1999 – 2000 . At the end of the season , he received the team ' s Most Exciting Player Award , as voted by the fans . He received the distinction three more times during his career with the Canucks from 2002 to 2004 ) . Meanwhile , the Canucks began improving as a team , finishing four points out of a playoff spot in the West in 2000 . The following season , Bertuzzi recorded his first career NHL hat trick , recording all three goals on the power play against San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov in a 6 – 3 win on December 30 , 2000 . Bertuzzi recorded a second consecutive 25 - goal season in 2000 – 01 , adding 30 assists for 55 points , third in team scoring behind Näslund and Andrew Cassels . His - 18 plus - minus rating , however , was a team - worst . The Canucks continued to improve , qualifying for the post - season for the first time in five years . Entering the 2001 playoffs as the final and eighth seed in the West , they were eliminated in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche . Bertuzzi scored two goals and two assists over four games in his first NHL post - season appearance . In the off - season , Bertuzzi filed for salary arbitration after initially failing to come to terms on a new contract with the Canucks . Both sides avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three - year deal on July 26 , 2001 . In the first month of the 2001 – 02 season , Bertuzzi received an automatic 10 - game suspension from the league ( forfeiting $ 118 , 557 in salary ) after leaving the bench to help teammate Ed Jovanovski in a fight . The incident occurred during a game against the Colorado Avalanche in which opposing coach Bob Hartley sent enforcer Scott Parker onto the ice as the extra attacker during a delayed penalty . Parker proceeded to physically engage Jovanovski , at which point Bertuzzi left the bench to help his teammate . Vancouver struggled with him out of the lineup , winning 3 games during the 10 - game span . Two months after returning from suspension , Bertuzzi went 15 consecutive games with at least a point , scoring 7 goals and 12 assists from January 3 – February 4 , 2002 . The streak tied Petr Nedved for the longest in Canucks history . During that span , in a game on January 9 , Canucks head coach Marc Crawford replaced Andrew Cassels with Brendan Morrison , marking the beginning of what was considered by many to be the most effective line combination in the league for several seasons . Bertuzzi had emerged as an effective power forward , able to use his size and strength to position himself in front of the net , with good stickhandling ability . According to Canucks assistant coach Jack McIlhargey , Bertuzzi ' s skill set favourably complemented Näslund ' s goal - scoring and Morrison ' s playmaking abilities . The trio were dubbed by Vancouver media as the " West Coast Express " , named after the city ' s commuter rail service of the same name . Late in the 2001 – 02 season , he recorded his second career hat trick on March 19 , 2002 , during a win against the New York Rangers . He scored his first two goals of the game against Dan Blackburn and his third into an empty net . Despite missing 10 games from his suspension , Bertuzzi finished the 2001 – 02 season third in league - scoring with 85 points , behind Näslund and Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla . His 1 . 18 points - per - game average ranked second in the league behind Mario Lemieux , who played 48 games less than Bertuzzi . He also improved his plus - minus rating by 39 points from the previous season , finishing a career - high + 21 . Although the Canucks were the league ' s highest scoring team , they finished with the final seed in the West for the 2002 playoffs , ranking eighth in their conference . Facing the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round , they were eliminated in six games . Bertuzzi recorded four points during the series . The following season , Bertuzzi appeared in his first NHL All - Star Game . He was joined by fellow Canucks Markus Näslund , defenceman Ed Jovanovski and head coach Marc Crawford , helping the Western Conference to a 6 – 5 shootout win against the East . He played on a line with Näslund and Peter Forsberg . Later in the season , he notched his third career hat trick on March 17 , 2003 , scoring three goals against Ron Tugnutt in a game against the Dallas Stars . He finished the season with career - highs of 46 goals ( third in the league ) , 51 assists and 97 points ( fifth in the league ) . His 25 power play goals led the league and tied Pavel Bure for the Canucks single - season record . Linemates Näslund and Morrison also recorded personal bests with 104 and 71 points , respectively . Meanwhile , the Canucks emerged as a top team in the West . Losing the Northwest Division title to the Avalanche by one point in the regular season , they finished as the fourth seed in their conference . After going down three - games - to - one in the opening round against the St . Louis Blues , Vancouver won three straight games to advance to the second round . Facing the Minnesota Wild , the Canucks gave up their own three - games - to - one series lead and were eliminated in seven games . During the series , Bertuzzi had reportedly walked by the Xcel Energy Center box office and told Wild fans they would not need their Game 6 tickets because Minnesota would be eliminated by then . In another on - ice incident , he skated by the opposing bench during Game 7 when the Canucks were winning 2 – 0 , telling Wild players to " get [ their ] golf clubs . " Despite his successful regular season , Bertuzzi struggled to score in the playoffs , recording 6 points in 14 games . In the off - season , Bertuzzi was named with Näslund to the NHL First All - Star Team . With Bertuzzi entering the final year of his contract , the Canucks began negotiating a contract extension prior to the 2003 – 04 season . Despite Bertuzzi ' s agent , Pat Morris , declaring that they would cease negotiations once the season began , Bertuzzi signed a four - year , $ 27 . 8 million deal with the Canucks on October 23 , 2003 . The contract took effect immediately , erasing the last year on his previous contract , and included a $ 3 million signing bonus ( $ 2 . 5 million paid in the first year and $ 500 , 000 in the second ) . The deal paid him $ 4 . 3 million the first year , $ 6 . 633 million the second year and $ 6 . 933 for the third and fourth . In January 2004 , he was voted by league fans to the starting lineup of the NHL All - Star Game . Representing the Western Conference alongside Näslund and Canucks head coach Marc Crawford , they were defeated by the East 6 – 4 . Bertuzzi had two assists while playing on a line with Näslund and Joe Sakic . Nearing the end of the 2003 – 04 season , Bertuzzi was indefinitely suspended by the NHL for punching Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore from behind during a game on March 8 , 2004 . His actions were a retaliation to a hit from Moore on Näslund during a previous game . Sitting out the remainder of the regular season and playoffs due to his suspension , he finishing 2003 – 04 with 60 points over 69 games . Vancouver replaced Bertuzzi on the team ' s top line by Matt Cooke and went on to their first Northwest Division title , before being eliminated in the first round of the 2004 playoffs by the Calgary Flames . Inactive in 2004 – 05 due to the players lockout and his ongoing suspension , which had been extended internationally , Bertuzzi returned to the Canucks in 2005 – 06 , as the league ended his playing ban . He recorded 25 goals and 71 points , including two hat tricks ( November 13 , 2005 , against the Detroit Red Wings and January 14 , 2006 , against the New York Islanders ) . Though he ranked third in team scoring , Crawford has recalled that by the end of the season , Näslund and Bertuzzi had been eclipsed by Daniel and Henrik Sedin as the team ' s offensive leaders . There was speculation that the effects of the Steve Moore incident , which included assault charges and constant media coverage , were negatively affecting his play . While on the road , he was consistently heckled and booed by fans throughout the NHL . Näslund , a close friend of Bertuzzi ' s , later expressed sympathy for him , saying in a 2008 interview , " It still bothers me what Todd has had to go through . . . There ' s no question he was standing up for me . . . it all went too far . " Beyond the negative impact on Bertuzzi ' s individual play , the media speculated that the fallout from the Moore incident had become a distraction to the organization as a whole . Compounding the situation in Vancouver , the Canucks had missed the playoffs for the first time in four years . As such , general manager Dave Nonis spent the off - season making significant changes to the Canucks lineup . On June 23 , 2006 , he traded Bertuzzi to the Florida Panthers , along with goaltender Alex Auld and defenceman Bryan Allen , in exchange for goaltender Roberto Luongo , defenceman Lukáš Krajíček and a sixth - round selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft ( Sergei Shirokov ) . After seven - and - a - half seasons with the Canucks , Bertuzzi left the club ranked seventh all - time among franchise scoring leaders with 449 points . Post - Vancouver ( 2006 – present ) . Instrumental in facilitating the trade to Florida was Bertuzzi ' s positive relationship with Panthers general manager Mike Keenan , who was his first coach in Vancouver . Debuting with the Panthers on October 6 , 2006 , Bertuzzi scored a goal and three assists in an 8 – 3 win against the Boston Bruins . He appeared in six more games for Florida , notching seven points total , before being sidelined with back spasms . After being diagnosed with a herniated disc in early - November , Bertuzzi opted for surgery , which kept him out of the lineup for five months . While recovering , the Panthers dealt him to the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline in exchange for forward prospect Shawn Matthias and conditional draft picks . Bertuzzi was in the last year of his contract with no guarantee he would re - sign with Florida in the off - season . Bertuzzi returned to action on March 22 , 2007 , debuting with his new team in a 2 – 1 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets . Eight days later , he scored his first goal as a Red Wing in a 4 – 3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars . On April 7 , he suffered a neck injury that kept him out of the lineup for the last game of the regular season and the first two games of the 2007 playoffs . He finished the campaign with 11 points in 15 games split between Florida and Detroit . During the playoffs , the Red Wings advanced to the Western Conference Finals , where they lost in six games to the Anaheim Ducks , who went on to win the Stanley Cup . Bertuzzi recorded 7 points in 16 playoff games . Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off - season , he agreed to a two - year , $ 8 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 2 , 2007 . Signing him was Ducks general manager Brian Burke , who had served as the Canucks general manager during Bertuzzi ' s time in Vancouver . Bertuzzi had reportedly been in negotiations to re - sign with Detroit , but the club only wanted a one - year deal . Playing the Red Wings in the Ducks ' first game of the regular season on October 3 , 2007 , he registered a goal and an assist in a 3 – 2 shootout loss . In the first month of the 2007 – 08 campaign , he suffered a concussion and was sidelined for 14 games in October and November 2007 . He returned to the lineup in time for the Ducks ' away game against the Canucks on November 27 , which marked his first NHL game in Vancouver since being traded away . Bertuzzi was received warmly by Canucks fans , as the Ducks lost the game 4 – 0 . Playing in 68 contests over the season , he registered 40 points with Anaheim . Entering the 2008 playoffs as the defending champions , the Ducks were eliminated in the first round four - games - to - two by the Dallas Stars . In six playoff contests , Bertuzzi recorded two assists . During the subsequent summer , several Ducks players were set to become free agents , including high - profile forward Corey Perry . Requiring additional salary cap space to make room for defenceman Scott Niedermayer , who announced he was returning for another season , Bertuzzi was placed on unconditional waivers with the intention of buying out the remaining year on his contract . Addressing Bertuzzi ' s buy out with the media , Burke asserted that he " believe [ d ] [ Bertuzzi ] can still play at the NHL level , " and that the Ducks were merely " handcuffed by [ their ] salary cap situation . " Bertuzzi once again became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one - year , $ 1 . 95 million contract with the Calgary Flames on July 7 , 2008 . Joining Calgary , he was reunited with Flames coach Mike Keenan . Before the start of the 2008 – 09 season , Bertuzzi switched jersey numbers from 4 to 7 , in honour of his boyhood idol , Phil Esposito . The numbers 44 , which Bertuzzi wore in New York , Vancouver and Detroit , and 4 , which he wore in Anaheim , were already taken in Calgary . He scored his first goal with the Flames , deflecting a Dion Phaneuf shot , on October 12 , 2008 , in a 5 - 4 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks . While initial fan reaction to Bertuzzi was negative due to his previous role with the division - rival Canucks , as well as his reputation following the Steve Moore incident , he was eventually accepted in Calgary . In January 2009 , he missed five games due to a back injury . Several months later , he was sidelined again with a knee injury and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage on March 3 , 2009 . Missing 11 games , he returned in time for the 2009 playoffs , where the Flames were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the opening round . He finished his only season in Calgary with 44 points in 66 regular season games , while adding a goal and an assist in six playoff contests . On August 18 , 2009 , Bertuzzi re - joined the Red Wings by accepting a one - year contract with the club worth $ 1 . 5 million . He recorded 44 points ( 18 goals and 26 assists ) in 2009 – 10 , ranking fifth in team scoring . During the second round of the 2010 playoffs , Bertuzzi recorded a career - high five - point contest ( a goal and four assists ) in a Game 4 victory against the San Jose Sharks . Bertuzzi finished with a playoffs career - high 11 points in 12 games . In the off - season , Bertuzzi signed a two - year $ 3 . 875 million dollar contract extension with the Red Wings on June 16 , 2010 . During the 2010 – 11 season , he appeared in his 1 , 000th NHL game on February 20 , 2011 , against the Minnesota Wild . Bertuzzi scored a shootout goal to help Detroit win the game 2 – 1 . During his time with Detroit , he has earned praise from head coach Mike Babcock and his teammates for adapting his playing style to be more defensively responsible . Bertuzzi credited the influence of teammates Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg , both successful two - way players in the league . International play . Bertuzzi debuted internationally for Team Canada at the 1998 World Championships in Switzerland . He was among the youngest players selected to the team , along with Canucks teammate Bryan McCabe and Chicago Blackhawks forward Eric Dazé , who were all born in 1975 ( third - string goaltender Christian Bronsard was two years younger , but did not play in any games ) . In six games , he recorded three points , as Canada failed to qualify for the medal rounds . Two years later , Bertuzzi competed at the 2000 World Championships in St . Petersburg , Russia . One of five Canucks players chosen to the national team , he was joined by Adrian Aucoin , Ed Jovanovski , Brendan Morrison and Peter Schaefer . His second tournament appearance was more productive , as he scored nine points in nine games – first among Canadian players and fourth overall – while also leading the tournament in penalty minutes with 47 . Canada did not medal , losing to Finland in the semifinal by a 2 – 1 score . His 63 total penalty minutes from both tournament appearances set an all - time Canadian record for World Championship competitors since 1977 ( when Canada resumed competing in the tournament ) . In December 2005 , Bertuzzi was controversially selected to play for Team Canada at the 2006 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 ( COC ) . The committee had concerns stemming from the Steve Moore incident and Bertuzzi ' s probationary status , but subsequently approved his representation of Canada at the Olympics . 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 . " " Bertuzzi went on to post three points ( all assists ) at the 2006 Olympics , tying for second in team scoring with nine other players . Canada failed to advance past the quarterfinal , losing to Russia by a 2 – 0 score . They finished in seventh place overall after winning gold at the previous Winter Olympics in 2002 . Steve Moore incident . On February 16 , 2004 , during a game between Vancouver and Colorado , Avalanche center Steve Moore injured Canucks team captain Markus Näslund by checking him in the head while Näslund was reaching for the puck ahead of him . Näslund , the league ' s leading scorer at the time , suffered a minor concussion and a bone chip 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 , ruling the hit legal , a judgement shared by the league upon further review after the game . Canucks head coach Marc Crawford publicly criticized the no - infraction call , claiming that Marouelli and his partner , Rob Martell , needed to show " respect " for the league ' s leading scorer . Vancouver president and general manager Brian Burke , the league ' s former chief disciplinarian , described the play as " a marginal player going after a superstar with a headhunting hit " . Several Canucks players were also vocal against Moore in the media . In particular , forward Brad May issued a " bounty " on Moore , while Bertuzzi called him a " piece of shit . " Näslund missed three games as a result of the hit and returned in time for the next game between the Canucks and Avalanche on March 3 . With NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in attendance , the contest was played to a 5 – 5 tie without incident . In a rematch five days later , however , the Canucks were more active in physically pursuing Moore . In one of four fights in the first period , Canucks forward Matt Cooke fought Moore six minutes into the game . At the first intermission , NHL executive vice - president Colin Campbell and director of officiating Andy van Hellemond placed a phone call to the two referees overseeing the game to discuss the potential for an escalation in physicality . With Colorado leading 8 – 2 midway through the third period , Bertuzzi began following Moore around the ice , attempting to provoke him into another fight . With Moore ignoring him , Bertuzzi grabbed Moore ' s jersey from behind and punched him in the back of the head . Bertuzzi , as well as several other players from both teams , landed atop Moore as he fell to the ice . Canucks fans initially cheered at Bertuzzi ' s actions , but as it became apparent Moore was seriously injured , the stadium became silent . After lying on the ice for approximately 10 minutes , Moore was removed from the playing surface on a stretcher . With eight minutes remaining in the third period , Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix reportedly asked referees to end the game . The contest was nonetheless played out with the Avalanche winning 9 – 2 . Moore was taken to Vancouver General Hospital and later transferred to a Denver hospital , where he was treated for three fractured vertebrae in his neck , a grade three concussion , vertebral ligament damage , stretching of the brachial plexus nerves , and facial lacerations . He was also suffering from amnesia . Two days after the incident , Bertuzzi scheduled a press conference in which he wept and apologized to Moore and his family , as well as to Burke , Canucks owner John McCaw , Jr . , the Canucks organization , his teammates , and the fans . He added , " For the kids that watch this game , I ' m truly sorry . I don ' t play the game that way . And I ' m not a mean - spirited person . " NHL and IIHF disciplinary actions . Immediately following the game , Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely by the league . On the morning of his apology , he attended a disciplinary hearing with NHL officials in Toronto , along with his agent , Pat Morris , and Brian Burke . The following day , on March 11 , 2004 , the league ruled he would remain indefinitely suspended , causing him to miss 13 regular season games and 7 playoff contests . The Canucks were additionally fined $ 250 , 000 . While the following NHL season was suspended due to the 2004 – 05 lockout , many players went overseas to play in Europe . Upon learning that Bertuzzi was intending to do the same , the International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) extended his NHL suspension to cover their jurisdiction . Releasing a statement on December 17 , 2004 , the IIHF described Bertuzzi ' s actions as " an extremely serious violation of the rules , " putting " the sport into disrepute . " The decision was based on an IIHF statute , allowing them to prevent the participation of any player who they judge as a jeopardy to the sport . Suspended by both the NHL and IIHF , Bertuzzi remained professionally inactive during the 2004 – 05 season . Besides club play , he was also taken out of consideration for the 2004 and 2005 World Championships , as well as the 2004 World Cup . He did , however , participate with other NHL players in a December 2004 charity game , held in Vancouver . The game was organized by Brad May in partnership with the Vancouver Giants , a junior club in the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) , and raised funds for Canuck Place , a Vancouver children ' s hospice sponsored by the Canucks . Bertuzzi received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd . Though the NHL lockout had not yet been resolved between the league and the players , Bettman scheduled a reinstatement hearing for Bertuzzi on April 26 , 2005 . The hearing was attended separately by Bertuzzi and Moore . After the lockout officially ended and the NHL was set to resume play for the 2005 – 06 season , Bettman announced Bertuzzi ' s reinstatement on August 8 , citing that " Mr . Bertuzzi ha [ d ] paid a very significant price for his conduct , " adding that he felt Bertuzzi was " genuinely remorseful and apologetic . " Bertuzzi ' s 17 - month suspension included the Canucks ' final 20 games of the 2003 – 04 season ( 13 regular season and 7 playoff contets ) , which tied for the fourth - longest in NHL history . The suspension accounted for $ 501 , 926 . 39 in forfeited salary , as well as an approximate $ 350 , 000 in lost endorsements . Bettman also cited " uncertainty , anxiety , stress and emotional pain for the Bertuzzi family " resulting from the suspension as a reason for his reinstatement . On the day of his reinstatement , Team Canada ' s executive director , Wayne Gretzky , offered him a spot on the national team ' s summer orientation camp in preparation for the 2006 Winter Olympics . A week later , Bertuzzi broke his 17 - month - long public silence by again admitting to his mistake and expressing a desire to move on with his life . He stated , " 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 . " Legal actions . Beyond his NHL and IIHF suspensions , legal action was taken against Bertuzzi in the provincial courts of British Columbia and Ontario , as well as the state court of Colorado . After a four - month investigation , the criminal justice branch of the British Columbia Ministry of the Attorney General announced on June 24 , 2004 , he was being formally charged with assault causing bodily harm . With the charge , Bertuzzi faced up to a - year - and - a - half in prison . Several months later , on December 22 , Bertuzzi pled guilty to the assault charge after arranging a plea bargain with prosecutors . He was given a conditional discharge requiring 80 hours of community service and one year ' s probation that additionally prohibited him from playing in any hockey game Moore was competing in . Under Canadian law , Bertuzzi ' s successful completion of his probationary period precluded him from a criminal record . Moore expressed disappointment regarding Bertuzzi ' s discharge and was upset that he was unable to attend the court date , having to issue a written victim statement instead . Moore ' s lawyer , Tim Danson , was given one day ' s notice of the court date following Bertuzzi ' s plea bargain , which he said was insufficient time for Moore to travel to Vancouver . On February 17 , 2005 , Moore filed a lawsuit in a Colorado court against Bertuzzi . Also named in the lawsuit were numerous individuals within the Canucks organization , including Brad May ( Bertuzzi ' s teammate at the time who was quoted as saying that there would " definitely be a price on Moore ' s head " after Moore ' s hit on Näslund ) , Brian Burke , Marc Crawford , as well as the Canucks organization as a whole and the Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment company that owned the team . The lawsuit was thrown out in October 2005 , as the Colorado judge ruled the case was better suited for Canadian courts , as Moore and all the defendants were Canadian citizens . Planning to appeal the decision , Danson stated publicly the following month that Moore had begun skating and doing regular workouts , but continued to suffer concussion - related symptoms . On February 16 , 2006 , the day of Bertuzzi ' s first Olympic game with Team Canada , Moore filed another lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court against Bertuzzi , the Canucks , and Orca Bay , 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 , who were watching their son on television when the attack happened , also sued , seeking CAD $ 1 . 5 million for " negligent infliction of nervous shock and mental distress " . Moore ' s lawyer filed the suit one day before its two - year limitation expired , denying there was any connection between the timing and Bertuzzi ' s participation in the 2006 Winter Olympics . In December 2006 , NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and top lieutenant Bill Daly facilitated a meeting between Moore ' s representatives and the defendants in hopes of agreeing on an out - of - court settlement . As court proceedings continued into the next year , Danson misfiled a confidential letter to Bertuzzi ' s lawyer , Geoffrey Adair , as a public document . The letter revealed that in July 2006 , Adair asked Danson in a meeting whether Moore would accept a CAD $ 1 million settlement ; Danson indicated that the figure was insufficient . The letter also revealed that Bertuzzi and Orca Bay subsequently offered a joint settlement of CAD $ 350 , 000 in the December 2006 meeting with Bettman several months later , an amount Danson described as insulting . During the lawsuit ' s discovery process , Danson asked the Ontario judge to void the formal transfer of Bertuzzi ' s CAD $ 1 . 2 million home in Kitchener , Ontario , to his wife , which occurred five weeks after his actions against Moore . It was argued that the transfer was intended to " make Bertuzzi creditor - proof to the greatest extent possible . " Meanwhile , Adair expressed his concern regarding the leaked letter between him and Danson impairing the possibility of a fair trial . In December 2007 , Moore further amended the suit , seeking an increased CAD $ 35 million for loss of income and CAD $ 3 . 5 million for the suffering of his parents . That same month , the Ontario Superior Court released statements pertaining to the lawsuit in which Bertuzzi testified that Crawford was to blame for his actions against Moore , an allegation corroborated by new Canucks general manager Dave Nonis , who was then director of hockey operations for the club . Bertuzzi claimed that the Crawford told players during the second intermission of the March 8 game that Moore needed to " pay the price " for his earlier hit against Naslund . Statements filed from Danson further claimed that Crawford had pointed to Moore ' s name and number on a board in the Canucks ' dressing room during the intermission , calling for the players to take action . The Canucks formally denied both parties ' claims , saying " At no time did the Vancouver Canucks organization or any of its management and employees , including former coach Mr . Crawford , encourage or promote the incident that occurred between Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore . " In lieu of the allegations against Crawford , Bertuzzi filed a third - party complaint against his former coach on March 3 , 2008 . He alleged that he was contractually obliged to obey Crawford and that the coach should be held personally liable for any legal damages Moore might be awarded in court . In response , Crawford formally stated that Bertuzzi acted in " direct disobedience " to orders from the bench to get off the ice before attacking Moore . Five years after filing the Ontario suit , Danson told reporters in March 2011 that the case had not yet proceeded in order to fully gauge the extent of Moore ' s injury . At the time , he was not yet employed and still experiencing headaches . The trial involving Bertuzzi and Moore is scheduled to begin in 2012 , with the date being September 24 or October 22 depending on whether Bertuzzi is still active in the NHL before the September date . Personal life . Bertuzzi was born and raised in Sudbury , Ontario . His father , Albert Bertuzzi , is an Italian - Canadian who worked as a miner and in the window - washing business . When Bertuzzi was a teenager , Albert survived a near - fatal car accident in which he was thrown from the vehicle through the windshield . His father has stated that he was proud of his own local reputation as a " dirty player " and referred to it as a " Bertuzzi trait " . He has said that Bertuzzi takes after him in regards to his toughness and aggression . Bertuzzi ' s great - uncle , Larry Bertuzzi , is a Toronto - based lawyer who has done arbitration work for the NHL . Growing up , Bertuzzi played minor hockey with the Nickel Centre and Sudbury Minor Hockey programs . In 1990 – 91 , Bertuzzi played as an underaged player in the major midget ranks with the Sudbury Capitals AAA team . Physically built as a power forward throughout his youth , he stood 6 feet and 2 inches ( 1 . 88 metres ) and weighed 195 pounds ( 88 . 5 kilograms ) by age 15 . Bertuzzi and his wife , Julie , were married in July 1996 . They have two children born a year - and - a - half apart in Vancouver , a son named Tag and a daughter named Jaden . Bertuzzi is a recreational golfer and has credited the sport with allowing him to relax more as a hockey player . During his 10 - game suspension from the NHL in October and November 2001 , he played golf to focus his energy . Afterwards , he made it a custom to go to the driving range before every game . His nephew Tyler Bertuzzi plays in the OHL with the Guelph Storm .