Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi (born February 2, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played parts of 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and Calgary Flames. He is also known for an incident where he sucker punched Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice in retaliation for a hit on Canucks player Markus Näslund.

Bertuzzi is a two-time All-Star, being named one in 2003 and 2004.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Bertuzzi played parts of four seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He had a successful time with the Storm. He was named to the OHL second All-Star team.

He was drafted 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL entry draft. On July 7, 1995, Bertuzzi signed a four-year, US$4.6 million contract to join the Islanders. On October 7, he made his NHL debut in a 4–4 overtime tie against the Boston Bruins. During the game, Bertuzzi also recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Travis Green goal and then scored his first NHL goal against Blaine Lacher in the next period. Bertuzzi was demoted to the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League (IHL) after he requested a trade away from the team.

On February 6, 1998, the Islanders traded Bertuzzi along with Bryan McCabe and a 1999 third-round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Trevor Linden. On November 1, Bertuzzi suffered a broken tibia after taking a slapshot from Canucks teammate Mattias Öhlund off of his leg. His season later ended after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and needed surgery. On September 3, 1999, Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $2 million contract to stay with the Canucks. On December 30, 2000, Bertuzzi scored his first career NHL hat-trick against Evgeni Nabokov in a 6–3 win over the San Jose Sharks. On July 26, 2001, Bertuzzi signed a contract extension to stay with the Canucks.

On October 15, 2001, the NHL suspended Bertuzzi for 10 games for leaving the bench to engage in a fight. Canucks head coach Marc Crawford placed Bertuzzi on a line with Markus Näslund and Brendan Morrison which was dubbed the "West Coast Express" and was named after the commuter train of the same name in Vancouver. The line was very successful and produced high scoring. During the 2002–03 season, Bertuzzi was selected to his first All-Star game. On October 23, 2003, Bertuzzi signed a four-year, $27.8 million contract to stay with the Canucks.

On March 8, 2004 during the third period of a blowout 9–2 loss against the Colorado Avalanche, Bertuzzi sucker punched Avalanche player Steve Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice in retaliation for a hit on Canucks player Markus Näslund during a game against the Avalanche on February 16. The punch and weight of other players falling on top of him caused Moore to be knocked unconscious and he also suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck along with cuts to his face and a concussion. This incident ended Moore's career. Bertuzzi gave a tearful public apology during a press conference two days later. The league suspended Bertuzzi indefinitely while it investigated the incident. He was suspended for the rest of the season and the NHL fined the Canucks $250,000. The suspension followed him over to international play as the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) also suspended Bertuzzi from representing Canada in the 2004 and 2005 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships, as well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. After the NHL's lockout ended, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with Bertuzzi and Moore separately. He reinstated Bertuzzi on August 8 and allowed him to play again. He received boos and jeers from opposing fans because of the incident which caused his play and production to decline.

On June 23, 2006, the Canucks traded Bertuzzi along with Alex Auld and Bryan Allen to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Roberto Luongo, Lukáš Krajíček and a 2006 sixth-round draft pick. He only played 7 games with the Panthers, scoring 1 goal and recording 6 assists. On February 27, 2007, the Panthers traded Bertuzzi to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the rights to Shawn Matthias and other conditional draft picks. He played 8 regular season games with the Red Wings, scoring 2 goals and recording 2 assists. On July 2, 2007, Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $8 million contract to join the Anaheim Ducks. He played 68 regular season games with the Ducks, scoring 14 goals and recording 26 assists for 40 points. On June 27, 2008, the Ducks placed Bertuzzi on waivers and bought out the rest of his contract which made him a unrestricted free agent.

On July 7, 2008, Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract to join the Calgary Flames. He played 66 regular season games with the Flames, scoring 15 goals and recording 29 assists for 44 points.

On August 18, 2009, Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract to rejoin the Detroit Red Wings. On June 16, 2010, Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $3.875 million contract to stay with the Red Wings. On February 20, 2011, Bertuzzi played in his 1,000 NHL game, scoring a shootout goal in a 2–1 shootout win against the Minnesota Wild. On February 23, 2012, Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $4.15 million contract to stay with the Red Wings.

On January 9, 2015, Bertuzzi signed a professional tryout contract with the Binghamton Senators, the AHL-affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. He was released from his contract on January 21 adn retired from playing professional ice hockey shortly afterwards.

Legal issues
Bertuzzi has faced many legal fallout because of the Steve Moore incident. On June 24, 2004, the Attorney General of British Columbia charged Bertuzzi with assault causing bodily harm. On December 22, he entered a guilty plea on the charge of assault and received a plea bargain which included 80 hours of community service and a one year's probation which also banned him from playing any ice hockey game that also featured Moore in. On February 17, 2005, Moore filed a lawsuit against Bertuzzi, Brad May, Brian Burke, Marc Crawford, the Canucks organization, and their owners Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment in a Colorrado court. The case was thrown out as the judge said that it was more suited for a Canadian court.

On February 16, 2006, Moore decided to file another lawsuit, this time in Ontario Superior Court against Bertuzzi, the Canucks, and Orca Bay, for CAD$15 million in damages for loss of income, CAD$1 million for aggravated damages, and CAD$2 million for damages. On August 19, 2014, Moore settled the lawsuit out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Personal life
Bertuzzi's nephew Tyler is also a professional ice hockey player and plays in the NHL.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1975 births
Category:Living people
Category:Anaheim Ducks players
Category:Binghamton Senators players
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:Ice hockey people from Greater Sudbury
Category:Vancouver Canucks players