Big Bert...

[IceMunkee 15]

I watched a bit of the Ducks/Nucks game last night. I am not sure if this is Bert's first game back but I know he has not had more then two. He looked like complete garbage, he would not "D" up on Naslund and it cuased at lest one goal. His motivation the whole game was lackluster at best.

I am even more happy we did not resign him. I am really happy Burke is locked up with him for two season's at 4 mil each. Just my thoughts....

[b.shanafan14 733]

The only painful thing about the Bertuzzi-Red Wings relationship to me was that it existed in the first place. Hated him long before he became a Wing, almost went on a killing spree when I heard we got him at deadline, knew he was a rental and was glad to see him gone. Played one, maybe two decent games for the Wings and that was it. Since his gooning on Moore which I to this day believe he should have been banned from the NHL for, he has been a Lang for the Wings type, slow floater big body with little physical side. He don't hit much anymore, his hands have deteriation, no speed, and less and less motivation. Hooray for the Ducks for signing him. I see "Big Bert" current contract as his last decent one. He is now injury and defensive liability with less scoring touch and I can't see him making more than $2 mil a season on contracts after this one. Thats my two cents....

Edited November 28, 2007 by b.shanafan14

[rick zombo 3,739]

The TSN crew discussed Bert's situation last night. Bob MacKenzie had some interesting points. He said Bertuzzi's job right now is to try and make himself "relevant" again in the NHL. And also, that he's only played 26 games since being traded out of Vancouver. MacKenzie believes that if Bertuzzi can play the way he did against LA on the weekend ( 2A and some physical play) that he may succeed in his "quest for relevance".

MacKenzie also added that Burke has "put himself on the line a bit here"

$4M/year for 2 years on a salary capped team. If Neidermayer comes back, trades will have to be made, etc.

Bottom line: I'm glad Burke made this deal because he looks foolish right now, but I'm dissapointed that the Wings lost Matthais in the process of aquiring Bert.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

i liked him, but with all these injuries im glad we didnt resign him

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

MacKenzie also added that Burke has "put himself on the line a bit here"

$4M/year for 2 years on a salary capped team. If Neidermayer comes back, trades will have to be made, etc.

I really hope Bert's season tanks so that Burke looks like an idiot and Holland looks like a genius.

Bottom line: I'm glad Burke made this deal because he looks foolish right now, but I'm dissapointed that the Wings lost Matthais in the process of aquiring Bert.

Imagine how Florida fans must feel. They gave up freakin Luongo for a guy that played like 4 games on their team. Ouch.

[johnnyoski 0]

Still a little early to call him a complete bust for the season, but he's definitely heading in that direction.

I've said all along that I'm glad we didn't re-sign him to that kind of contract.

[toby91_ca 620]

No doubt Burke put himself on the line here. There is huge risk with the signing, but there is also potential upside.

$4 million could prove to be a very good deal, but there is plenty of risk that it would be a complete waste of money. The good news for Burke is that it's only $4 million for 2 years and not something like $14.5 million per year for 6 or 7 years that the Rangers have tied up in 2 players.

[WingNutt 12]

I'm glad we didn't keep this guy, save the cap room for a player that plays night in night out

[eva unit zero 271]

No doubt Burke put himself on the line here. There is huge risk with the signing, but there is also potential upside.

$4 million could prove to be a very good deal, but there is plenty of risk that it would be a complete waste of money. The good news for Burke is that it's only $4 million for 2 years and not something like $14.5 million per year for 6 or 7 years that the Rangers have tied up in 2 players.

The major difference is that Gomez and Drury are both solid all-around centers in their prime who have never had major injury issues, while Bertuzzi is an injury-prone headcase who isn't even close to the player he was five years ago, but is still making money like he can play that way. Here's a comparison of each player's average per-season numbers for the past three seasons:

Scott Gomez: 78 GP, 20-51-71, +11

Chris Drury: 78 GP, 28-35-63, -1

Todd Bertuzzi: 55 GP, 15-32-47, +1

Over their team's current GP this season, that projects to the following 'projected' totals of what those players should have so far (red text means he's well behind pace, black means he's within 2 of his 'pace', and blue means he's ahead of pace)

Scott Gomez: 23 GP, 6-15-21, +3

Chris Drury: 23 GP, 8-10-18, EVEN

Todd Bertuzzi: 17 GP, 5-10-15, EVEN

As you can see from this comparison...Bertuzzi is WELL behind what would have been a reasonable expectation. Drury and Gomez haven't been perfect, but they have been a lot closer to what was expected than Bertuzzi has.

[toby91_ca 620]

The major difference is that Gomez and Drury are both solid all-around centers in their prime who have never had major injury issues, while Bertuzzi is an injury-prone headcase who isn't even close to the player he was five years ago, but is still making money like he can play that way. Here's a comparison of each player's average per-season numbers for the past three seasons:

Scott Gomez: 78 GP, 20-51-71, +11

Chris Drury: 78 GP, 28-35-63, -1

Todd Bertuzzi: 55 GP, 15-32-47, +1

Over their team's current GP this season, that projects to the following 'projected' totals of what those players should have so far (red text means he's well behind pace, black means he's within 2 of his 'pace', and blue means he's ahead of pace)

Scott Gomez: 23 GP, 6-15-21, +3

Chris Drury: 23 GP, 8-10-18, EVEN

Todd Bertuzzi: 17 GP, 5-10-15, EVEN

As you can see from this comparison...Bertuzzi is WELL behind what would have been a reasonable expectation. Drury and Gomez haven't been perfect, but they have been a lot closer to what was expected than Bertuzzi has.

There's also a big difference between $80-90 million (which the Rangers are committed to) and $8 million (which the Ducks are committed to).

[Cicada 4]

bertuzzi seems scared to go into contact situations..

he's a non entity now most of the time

[wingslogo19 281]

I really hope Bert's season tanks so that Burke looks like an idiot and Holland looks like a genius.

Imagine how Florida fans must feel. They gave up freakin Luongo for a guy that played like 4 games on their team. Ouch.

It was 7 games

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

Ah yes, those 3 games made all the difference.

[eva unit zero 271]

There's also a big difference between $80-90 million (which the Rangers are committed to) and $8 million (which the Ducks are committed to).

That 4m per year could have been better spent on Dustin Penner. The Rangers may or may not be facing cap issues in the next few years. Anaheim is facing them NOW. If Anaheim had retained Penner instead of picking up Bert, they would be better off.

[wingslogo19 281]

Ah yes, those 3 games made all the difference.

Hey he had 7 points with the panthers

Edited November 28, 2007 by wingslogo19

[Draperfan 104]

And where was all this negativity when i was putting down Bert? ,guess it took you guys a lot longer to realize that he sucks

[Booster313 138]

In hind site it appears that letting Bert walk was the right decision, that being said I was impressed about his comments of Detroit when refering to his visit with the Ducks on opening night. He said how great the fans were and that he was looking forward to seeing a lot of the guys from the team again. He seemed like a legitmate nice guy, now a legitmate power forward??? That's another question entirely.

[T.Low 1,011]

Eva Unit Zero said it all: injury-prone headcase.

Bertuzzi never misses an opportunity to make you want to not like him.

Listenning to Vancouver Team 1040 today, this is from one caller:

"Hey, you guys were talking about that goal being 'Vintage Naslund', we'll what about the non-back check that lead to that goal being 'Vintage Betuzzi', eh!