View Full Version : Avs player sucker punched. Broken Neck.
EZ_Pedric Cuf
03-10-04, 10:52 AM
www.ajc.com/sports/conten...zzis-.html
Quote:Sucker Punch KOs Avs' Moore for Season
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)--It will be a while before Steve Moore gets back on the ice for the Colorado Avalanche. Todd Bertuzzi might have to wait just as long.
Moore will miss the rest of the season with a broken neck, the result of a sucker punch from Bertuzzi. Moore also sustained a concussion and deep cuts on his face, and he'll remain hospitalized in Vancouver indefinitely.
Bertuzzi, an All-Star forward for the Canucks, was suspended indefinitely pending a hearing at the NHL office in Toronto on Wednesday.
B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.
``It doesn't matter what the score was, what the time was, what the place was, what the history was, there's no room in our game for that,'' Colorado coach Tony Granato said.
Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 Colorado victory. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first--with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him--and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher.
``All I'm concerned with is he regain his health,'' said Pierre Lacroix, Avalanche president and general manager. ``All legal matters and all medical matters, I don't want to think about.''
Bertuzzi's punch appeared to be retaliation for an open-ice hit Moore delivered to Canucks captain Markus Naslund last month, knocking him out for three games. Vancouver players vowed to get even with Moore for that hit, which wasn't penalized.
The Canucks didn't go after Moore in last week's rematch in Denver, a 5-5 tie attended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Naslund said he didn't believe Bertuzzi planned to hurt Moore.
``He tried to do something he thought was right for his team, to challenge someone,'' Naslund said. ``He wanted to make a point that you don't go out and hit our players.''
Bertuzzi's punch and its aftermath sent shock waves through the league, with players condemning his actions and calling for tough penalties.
``As NHL players, we get fired up and sometimes do stupid things on the ice, but nobody wants to see injuries to the extent of Moore's,'' Detroit Red Wings veteran Brendan Shanahan said.
Even the NHL's so-called goons were appalled.
``It doesn't matter what your name is, this is not right,'' said the Calgary Flames' Krzysztof Oliwa, a well-traveled fighter. ``This is not hockey, this is being cheap.''
Wayne Gretzky said it was an example of something that can happen in a sport that often turns violent.
``It's a very emotional game and you can quickly lose your temper and lose your focus,'' the Hall of Famer said in Lakeland, Fla., where he was watching the Toronto-Detroit game.
``What happened was wrong, and I am sure that nobody feels worse about it than Todd.''
In February 2000, former Boston Bruin Marty McSorley was charged for hitting then-Vancouver Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation.
The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.
When Moore's condition improves, he'll be transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver and evaluated by neurosurgeons, the Avalanche said.
``Steve knows he has the support of the entire Avalanche family and hockey fans throughout the world,'' Lacroix said.
Vancouver general manager Brian Burke said Bertuzzi was ``too distraught'' to attend Tuesday's news conference, but the Canucks right wing tried to contact Moore at the hospital.
``That, to me, shows the sincerity more than any statement that we could issue,'' said Burke, who will fly to Toronto to be with Bertuzzi at his hearing Wednesday.
Bertuzzi was an All-Star last season when he was fifth in the league in scoring. This year, he was an All-Star again and has 60 points, 23rd in the league.
``If most people knew how upset Todd was by the result of what happened they would have a different view on things,'' said teammate Trevor Linden, also president of the NHL Players' Association.
This happened two days ago, but I haven't heard the worst until now. I was eating at Old Chicago after 10 for their 2 buck mini pizzas while there were a lot of people there for the game. There were a few fights before this and everyone in the building was cheering each time. Then this happened and more cheering as more people piled on top of the poor guy. They only stopped cheering when they realized the seriousness of the damage as evidenced by a lovely pool of blood. It made me sick. =\
Yeah I don't think he meant to do the damage he did, but he did go for a intentional cheapshot, and will regret the result.
The good news is Moore will eventually be ok, but it will be a long recovery.
freonsmurf
03-10-04, 11:16 AM
Very bad for hockey, as if the looming lockout isn't bad enough.
Video footage is here.
hfhelper.hockeyfights.com..._moore.wmv
The hit and the combination of 500 lbs on top of him right afterwards were to much. The guy basically could of died, the punishement should fit the bill. What would happen if was paralyzed or died? The doctors could not operate om him intially because he had a concussion, that delay could of had some dire consquences if the injuries were more severe.
NHl should also look into removing the 2 minute instigating penalty, its just stupid.
It will be intresting to see how it works out, I am sure bertuzzi is gone for atleast one year.
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Darkefang
03-10-04, 11:24 AM
It was a cheap shot in retaliation of a completely clean hit on the Canucks captain, resulting in a concussion. This was even the second game since that hit, and the Avs didn't retaliate then, which hockey etiquette would dictate they do it in. Moore already got punched on earlier in the game, so it should have been even. Bertuzzi has to be worried, when even the league's enforcers are criticizing the hit.
Llabak Tharr
03-10-04, 11:44 AM
At the very least, he should be kicked out of the sport, and optimally he should be charged and spend time in prison. It's sad that a really beautiful sport can be tarnished by a bunch of thugs. Fighting has no place in hockey at all. The sad thing is that that's what gets the ratings. If the league gave a @#%$, they wouldn't have that stupid "don't intervene until someone falls over" rule about fights on the ice. Fights sell tickets, and so they turn the other way. It's only a matter of time before someone is killed by a cheap shot like that.
EZ_nekoken
03-10-04, 11:48 AM
This is why hockey isn't a sport anymore. It's more like thuggery on ice.
Narsse Nekoken
Pfft. If the Bruin's Marty McSorley hit on Donald Brashear warranted a forced retirement, this warrants near legal action. That's just crazy.
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EZ_Andorion
03-10-04, 11:56 AM
I've said it before, I'll say it again - the ONLY REASON fighting is tolerated in the NHL is because the fans like it, and it's allowed by the rules.
Anyone who argues that hockey is more physical that other sports and fighting is inevitable is 100% wrong. If there were severe consequences for fighting and fights were broken up immediately, there would be very few of them.
~Berj
EZ_Mythas Grimlore
03-10-04, 11:58 AM
Hockey was ever a sport? They should just call it ice football, would appease the fans more anyways.
In college i would never goto the games but roomies always would. I'd ask "how'd the game go" they would either say good which meant 4+ fights, or it sucked only one fight or none at all.
Oh well i guess there has to be some sports that don't require finess
EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper
03-10-04, 12:10 PM
Latest reports says Moore has full use of his limbs and no paralysis is expected, which is good news.
Personally, I think Bertuzzi should be banned from the sport, but speculations says he'll likely just be suspended for the rest of the regular season, maybe playoffs, perhaps for a year.
Many people say that if it wasn't for the league's instigator rule, the bad blood would've been settled last month when Moore decked the Canuck capt. Think if that rule wasn't in place, it would've helped? Edited by: Nyssa Rainwhisper at: 3/10/04 12:14 pm
EZ_Pedric Cuf
03-10-04, 12:10 PM
Hockey is a WONDERFUL sport. I enjoy it vastly over many other sports. But as has been said, fights just tarnish the game. It requires a large amount of finesse, endurance, and just all around skill.
I no longer go to NHL games.
Glip the Gnome
03-10-04, 12:21 PM
Quote:Oh well i guess there has to be some sports that don't require finess
You can't be serious there man. You ever played hockey? :P
EZ_Mythas Grimlore
03-10-04, 12:46 PM
yes, i have played hockey, against pros no, but against people my skill level. Im sorry in a sport where you can hit some one to take control of the sports object isn't one of finess.
In basketball you can't just bum rush the point guard and bowl him over to get the ball. The same goes for soccer, baseball * exception of home plate * etc. If you do in these sports its heavily penalized where as in hockey its encouraged.
Im sorry slamming someone into the boardz doesn't take much finess. Usually as a rule of thumb any sport that involves padding aren't the harder sports.
Darkefang
03-10-04, 12:57 PM
The finesse part comes into play when you are avoiding said bum rushers.
Besides, have you ever seen Big East or SEC basketball? There is a reason those conferences had the 6-foul rule for a few years (or do they still have them?).
Actually as someone who played hockey, checking someone legaly does take a lot of finesse. You have to take into account your motion, his, and the relative position of the boards. And if you miss, you hit the wall and your momentum stops, and he is skating by often for a good shot at a goal. Hockey requires a huge number of skill sets
I should first note that I live in Vancouver so I'm a Canucks fan. Bertuzzi will probably be suspended for 10 to 15 games. I'll guess 13 games since they're 69 games into an 82 game season (I think it's still at 82 games - might be 84; in that case it'd be a 15 game suspension).
If you follow hockey there would be a few things you'll notice that Bertuzzi did; he pulled the sweater and punched from the side, not the back of his head. He also kept his glove on. It was a suckerpunch, and it was intended to be a suckerpunch (the Canucks were getting blown out in a game which would've vaulted them past the Avalanche in the standings, so the players were frustrated), but there was no intent to injure there (unless you count intent to bloody someone's nose).
It was intended as a response to Moore throwing an elbow to the head of Markus Naslund last month which left Naslund with a concussion and sidelined for three games (I'm a little amused that the above post labeled the Moore-Naslund incident as an "open ice hit" when Moore cleary raise his elbow and nailed Naslund squarely in the head). This was nothing like Marty McSorley's stick to the head of Donald Brashear, though due to the injury suffered by Moore it has to be a double-digit suspension.
EZ_Phantom Rogue
03-10-04, 02:40 PM
Cant agree more Ruccus.
CEpt on the whole Canucks fan, GO GO PENGUINS!! 3 Game winning Streak!
It was a fluke that he broke his neck, was intended to be a suckerpunch nothin more. Not like he was swinging to take the guys head off his shoulders.
BTW, all people who say hockey sucks have never played it and are ignorant for making said comments until you actually do.
freonsmurf
03-10-04, 02:41 PM
Naslund himself admitted the hit was clean, the NHL said the hit was clean. There was no excuse for "revenge" on what is accepted to be a clean hit. Bertuzzi's paper thin reasoning for going after Moore is complete @#%$.
Even worse after the hit, he kept wailing on the dude. He is a disgrace to his team and the sport.
I guess if he decides to rape someone but has the "courtesy" to use a condom and put a rose on the pillow, then its not that bad...hell if you are scarred for life because of on incident oh well its just a fluke.
The intent is what really matters, and the split second before he threw that punch all he wanted to do was take the dudes block off. Regardless of the injuries, that kind of reckless action alone should be enough to suspend him for a long time.
Edited by: FreonSmurf at: 3/10/04 2:45 pm
Nimmbull
03-10-04, 02:47 PM
that video link isn't working. anyone have a working one?
Nimmbull
03-10-04, 02:51 PM
hfhelper.hockeyfights.com..._moore.wmv
whoops, navigated and found it. &lt;p&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#FF0000&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;I played a hardcore old-school badass rogue for 3<br>and a half years and all I got was this lousy sig&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
He'll be suspended 25+ games at least, Dale Hunter's hit on some guy who had just scored a goal in the playoffs i think in the early 90s after he scored a goal earned him a 23 game suspension. He should be suspended a year at least, and most likely wil face legal charges.
The type of hockey that teams play now is so boring. Basically they dump it in the opponents zone and chase the puck down....for 60 minutes. So boring. The stylish brand of hockey played by the Penguins of the Jagr/Lemiuex era was great, similar to the one Herb Brooks taught for his 1980 Miracle On Ice team, although i haven't seen the movie so don't know how its shown there. man, hockey is in real bad shape, lockout, too many fights, wasn't it just a few years ago that it was in danger of going bankrupt or something? I wouldn't be surprised if they cut 6 to 8 teams
Wix, there's a point between the first and second picture where you see Moore raise his elbow - I was watching the game live and saw the repeated replays. You can get a hint on Moore's elbow by looking how his right arm is outstretched in the first picture, but in near his body on the second - his other arm would still be in the same position on his stick, so the left elbow would be jutting out the same distance his right elbow was pulled in.
I don't recall Naslund saying the hit was clean (though of hockey's 'nice guys', Naslund's one of the nicest guys in hockey so I could see him shrugging it off), and I do remember Crow (coach Crawford) absolutely livid after the game.
EZ_Pedric Cuf
03-10-04, 02:55 PM
Hodurbear, that's ridiculous rationalizing. And yes, in soccer, if you're careful, a little physical contact can be used to take the ball away. Such as a slide.
Just because one part of the game is utilizing brute force (although as MARBH said, it does take judgement and the person who the check is being attempted on can use his skill to get away from it) doesn't mean the rest of it requires no finesse. I can't believe how well these people manage the puck, for instance.
Caowyth
03-10-04, 02:58 PM
Quote:Even worse after the hit, he kept wailing on the dude. He is a disgrace to his team and the sport.
I just watched the video, and I don't see this. I see other people come in, pile on, and start wailing on him, but I don't see him continue wailing on Moore after the one hit.
EZ_Blaze ODead
03-10-04, 03:02 PM
Hockey is all about finesse. I'm sorry, but watch some of the really good stick/puckhandlers around and you wouldn't belive the things they do with the puck.
EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper
03-10-04, 03:09 PM
Though I did see him more or less chuck (for lack of a better word to describe it) Moore onto the ice. That was a bit unnecessary. An Avs guy piled on after Moore hit the ice with his head, and his head snapped back a bit. That was a bit unnecessary.
freonsmurf
03-10-04, 03:20 PM
www.tsn.ca/nhl_network/ne...p?Id=72526
The hit on Naslund was clean, he said it, the league said it, the ref's said it was clean.
Why must you defend the actions of a @#%$ scumbag because he claimed it was for revenge? @#%$ him. I live 50 miles west of denver, I like the avs and consider them my home team(god knows I can't afford a ticket though). I am pissed, that is @#%$. @#%$ him.
EZ_Healo
03-10-04, 07:19 PM
Quote:but there was no intent to injure there (unless you count intent to bloody someone's nose).
I guess you missed the part where he drove his face into the ice as hard as he could. That's what most people are pissed about and that was clearly ment to do harm.
Sorry but the dude is a punk bitch that had to suckerpunch someone. He should have droped the gloves and took his penalties. Now he put some dudes career in jeperdy. He should be out as long as the ave's dude is out.
EZ_Binamar Urthenshaker
03-10-04, 08:11 PM
Reminds me of the time that Philadelphia Eagles fans cheered as Michael Irving was carried off of the field on a stretcher because he got drilled onto his neck and couldn't move.
EZ_Jais Rassiter
03-10-04, 09:45 PM
Boot his ass from the league. I hope he feels like total 100% ass. Jais Rassiter Deciver of Rodcet Nife. Ring Warden of Rodcet Nife.
"The day destorys the night, night divides the day".
Bwahahaha. ALL of the Boston news is replaying Bertuzzi's public comments on Marty McSorley's incident. How "shameful" it was, and that "this sort of thing shouldn't happen in professional hockey." Oh and "Something substantial needs to be done to players who do these things."
Wix, I saw the Naslund hit as it happened, plus repeated replays from several angles (and as I started writing this the channel I'm watching was showing the Naslund hit) - it was dirty and he stuck out his elbow (if you can find the reverse angle footage which shows Moore skating towards the camera, you'll easily see the elbow).
I also don't see how suggesting that he deserves 13 game suspension is defending his actions. He did not intend to put Moore in the hospital; he intended to bloody Moore's nose. But the fact remains he did put Moore in the hospital, so he should get around 13 games for it.
If you honestly thought he intended to injure Moore, then maybe you should read his apology, and catch his statements tonight on your local sports channel.
EZ_JookaWoo
03-10-04, 10:32 PM
Quote:He did not intend to put Moore in the hospital; he intended to bloody Moore's nose.
its called assault and hearin the @#%$ this guy talks off the ice previously makes me want to see him in jail.
The Vancouver Police Department has launched an assault investigation, but that's a different matter entirely. As for convicting him on the fact that you don't like the things he's said on unrelated subjects, that's kind of biased.
EZ_Phantom Rogue
03-10-04, 10:46 PM
Conspiracy to commit murder is saying, "id like to kill that SOB" to your friend too. Then a couple days from now, that SOB end sup dead, you bet your ass you'd be questioned/interrogated.
Every hit in the NHL (and all hockey leagues) is intended to put the guy into the boards, and sometimes out of the game, hell, thats why people are dubbed, "Enforcers." Bertuzzi, Brashear, Rob Ray (old timer), ect are all known for their wickedness on the ice, and their ability to step up to the plate and dish one out. Bertuzzi was seeking him out, and intended to bust him up, but in no means did he intentionally mean to break his neck or whatnot, (like Mcsorely and the stick), that was blatent disreguard, this was an NHL toughy doin what he does best.
DarkOmen42
03-10-04, 10:54 PM
Ruccus man, look at the first picture, Naslund is DOWN on one knee, before he ever gets to Moore. Moore doesn't have to do jack, he was already at elbow level. Hara
EZ_MorrellVZ
03-10-04, 11:16 PM
Quote:BertuzziSuckerPunch
The video only shows one sucker punch, the one when they are both skating. Then it appears as if they both lose their balance (which can easily happen when you're hitting someone without the use of the boards, I know, I've played some ice hockey). Now, did Bertruzzi intend to break the man's neck? I don't think so, seems like he just wanted to start a fight. To me, it looks like Moore falls, Bertruzzi falls/trips on top of him, but then when the second Av player (don't catch his name) jumps on Bertruzzi and starts wailing on him, causing another Canuck to jump on the pile, I imagine all that weight pushed down on to his neck. and if you watch, it's at an angle that even 50 pounds could easily snap his neck, let alone the 500 or so of three fully padded hockey players at a pretty high speed coming down on that exposed and precariously positioned neck.
Yes, Bertruzzi should be punished pretty severely, he is responsible. But was his intent so malicious as to break his neck? I don't think that's how it went, I think it was much more like negligent homicide then full-blown murder, to use an analogy.
Well, assault requires intent to put someone in apprehension of unwanted physical contact, and battery is the unwanted physical contact. He'd be guilty of assault and battery. There is no specific intent to cause deadly force required.
If someone attempts to shoot someone in the foot but misses and kills them, that is still murder. The intent requirement goes to the action. Not the result. The result must be a foreseeable consequence of the intended action to satisfy the causation requirement. If someone hit someone with a beachball, and it caused a strange chain of events that makes the target fall and break their neck, they will not be found guilty of a deadly assault. This is probably foreseeable. Edited by: Lisboa at: 3/10/04 11:23 pm
DarkOmen42
03-10-04, 11:20 PM
The videos I've seen on tv that have been replayed 4 billion times now, show that Bertuzzi had his hands on the back of Moore's head. Like he is forcing him down head first, I think thats where a lot of people draw the line. The sucker punch was lame, but trying to push someone down head first into the ice is complete @#%$. Hara
When it comes to a criminal action, no Vancouver jury is going to convict.
EZ_minoltasrt101b
03-11-04, 12:25 AM
I live in Vancouver, and I consider myself a fan of the Canucks. However, I won't be attending any more games - or even watching them on TV - until Brad May, Marc Crawford and Todd Bertuzzi are no longer members of the Canucks organization. Whether Bertuzzi intended to severely injure Moore or not, he certainly intended to injure him, as his own comments made clear in the weeks preceding the game. Marc Crawford has to go for encouraging the classless behavior displayed not just by Bertuzzi, but especially by Brad May, who 'joked' about offering a bounty to whoever ended Moore's career. Ed Jovanovski, Brian Burke and Dan Cloutier wouldn't be missed if they were to be sent elsewhere, either.
@#%$ all three of them for tarnishing the image of a team that includes some of the sports classiest individuals. (Mike Keane, Markus Naslund, Mike Keane and especially NHL Player's Association President Trevor Linden).
As for punishment, I'd be ecstatic if Bertuzzi was banned for life, but I'll settle for a year. Anything less may damage my enthusiasm for the NHL for years.
Darkefang
03-11-04, 06:34 AM
Quote:Hodurbear, that's ridiculous rationalizing. And yes, in soccer, if you're careful, a little physical contact can be used to take the ball away. Such as a slide.
I guess I need to explicitly label any jokes. Very obviously, hockey is more of a contact sport than basketball. However, its pretty common for people to joke that basic basketball skills are deteriorating to the point where all they do nowadays is pound each other into oblivion.
*edit* Actually, going back to look at what exactly I wrote, I can't even see what I'm supposedly rationalizing.
Quote:The finesse part comes into play when you are avoiding said bum rushers.
Besides, have you ever seen Big East or SEC basketball? There is a reason those conferences had the 6-foul rule for a few years (or do they still have them?). Edited by: Hodurbear at: 3/11/04 6:41 am
Biggwin
03-11-04, 07:31 AM
While I totally think the hit was excessive a lot of this comentary is crazy!
Getting pissed because he went after revenge??? WTF is that you would be hard pressed not to find a revenge hit at least once a week! It happens it is a part of the sport.
The only bad thing about the hit was that it was from behind. It was a suckers hit. He was given no chance to defend himself!
Sorry but fighting is a part of hockey and it is here to stay. There have been hard hits for as long as I can remember. Putting someone through the glass makes the highlights every time it happens.
As far as him getting hurt, it sucks but you played a physical sport!
As for as hitting him, wussie sucker!
The suspension is out: the rest of the season plus the playoffs, and the Canucks are fined $250,000. He'll also have to meet with (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman before the start of next season to decide whether he'll play next year.
That means 13 games for the season plus 4 to 28 more games for the playoffs (depending on whether the Canucks get punted in four games in the first round, or if they make it to the finals and use seven games in every series).
Depending on how many games the Canucks play in the playoffs it could be harsh (up to 41 games), but it seems reasonable considering I don't think the NHL wanted to give Bertuzzi back to the Canucks before a potential Avalanche/Canucks playoff series and the only way to guarantee that was to suspend him for all but the final round.
EZ_Andorion
03-11-04, 09:08 AM
Quote:Sorry but fighting is a part of hockey and it is here to stay. There have been hard hits for as long as I can remember. Putting someone through the glass makes the highlights every time it happens.
It's not crazy to point out that fighting in hockey only exists because it's allowed by the rules. The game would not be watched in its current state if it wasn't for the fights, and that's the sad fact.
~Berj Edited by: Andorion at: 3/11/04 12:24 pm
EZ_Riot Sio Zon
03-11-04, 09:45 AM
Well I know the only reason I would ever watch Nascar is for the wrecks.
EZ_Healo
03-11-04, 11:48 AM
fighting is a part of hockey but what happened wasnt a fight.
EZ_Riot Sio Zon
03-11-04, 03:01 PM
Correct. That wasn't a fight. It was a cheap shot and an unprovoked assault. I do hope to see him prosecuted as well as his suspension.
EZ_Doofy Rainbowfloatar
03-12-04, 03:28 AM
I for one think they need to have harsher penalties for fighting other than just 2mins in the penalty box.
Hell, half of all the fights seem almost scripted...it's turning into WWF on ice.
Just sad if you ask me...and shame on that guy for sucker punching...if your going to fight someone, do it like a man, non of this cheap shot crap.
-Doof
They do; there's 2 minutes for roughing, 5 minute major for fighting, and the ref can also give a 10 minute or game misconduct which automatically means the player's actions are reviewed by the league. And if you get too many misconducts, you can be suspended.
Some fights are scripted in that during a faceoff, two players will start talking to each other and agree to drop the gloves after the puck is dropped (you don't fight before the puck is dropped or at the end of a period because you could get thrown out of the game). There are also "enforcers" on teams who's job is to protect the skilled players while still being able to add to the scoresheet - with two enforcers, they'll start talking to each other about when they should drop the gloves; there's no malice between the two, they know that its their job to fire up their team (and either fire up or silence the crowd) by beating the other team's enforcer in a fight.
btw, Bertuzzi isn't an enforcer, he's the second best player on the Canucks (he's a "Power Forward", which means he uses physical force to muscle his way into the right spot to score goals).
Darkefang
03-12-04, 09:21 AM
Why do the guys on NHL Tonight, and other sports analysts, keep saying Bertuzzi is one of the best 10 players in the league? He had one great season, last year, and this year hasn't been particularly good. I hadn't even heard of him before last season. He doesn't seem to have earned the place as a top player that these guys seem to be giving him.
This year Bertuzzi has 60 points (22nd in the league) in 69 games which is a bit off from last year and the year before (he had 97 points in 82 games last year and 85 points in 72 games the year before, so he isn't exactly a one year wonder), but he's part of the reason Markus Naslund has 75 points (5th in the league) this year. Bertuzzi also leads the Canucks in assists (tied with Naslund) and powerplay goals.
He is the second best player on the Canucks, and he's one of the best power forwards in the game today; hopefully the Sedins will continue their good play and force other teams to divide their checkers between Naslund and the Sedins, instead of just being able to pester Naslund for the entire game now (preventing him from scoring).
As for those wanting Bertuzzi strung up from the rafters, maybe I'm more sympathetic because of my job. Being a jail guard, my job is seeing people who have screwed up in one way or another. Some are ignorant thieves out for a quick buck, some are down on their luck and just trying to survive, some are arrogant and unremorseful fools who thought they were smarter than the law, but the majority are normal people who made a bad decision that cost them.
Take Dany Heatley for example. He's an Atlanta Thrashers player who got drunk, tried to drive home with his friend and teamate Dan Snyder. He totaled his car (sliced it in half) and killed his friend in the process. Had he known what was going to happen do you think he would've picked up his keys? Heck, do you think he would've even left his house that day if he knew he'd end up killing his friend? But the fact remains his actions took another person's life. Nobody's saying what an evil person Heatley is for drinking and driving, they're saying what a shame it is and how hard it must've been for Heatley to be at Dan Snyder's funeral and know that he put him there.
Heatley did a stupid thing; more stupid than what Bertuzzi did in my opinion (I see drunk drivers in my cells far too often). But he's not an evil person because his actions took a person's life, just as Bertuzzi's not an evil person because his actions broke a person's neck. They're both people who made one bad decision that will affect the rest of their life. They pay their pennance and learn from their mistake, and hopefully they can help others avoid their mistakes or help others cope if those same mistakes are made by others.