Bertuzzi placed on waivers.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

He left because Kenny would not give him more than a 1 year deal and rightly so due to health issues. Why would Kenny now change his mind?

I'm glad Kenny eithe doesn't read this forum or laughs at the ridiculous comments posted.

Bookmark'd for next time you express an opinion. I'll just throw this right back yah, Mr All Knowing Hockey God. You sir are the ridiculous one for going off the deep end over someones oppinion

[uk_redwing 495]

I'm glad Kenny eithe doesn't read this forum or laughs at the ridiculous comments posted.

If the forum is that bad then you can leave and we wont miss ya!

Edited June 29, 2008 by uk_redwing

[VM1138 1,921]

Either your memory is going or you have on your rose colored glasses. 7 points in 16 playoff games.

Can't think of a negative - how 'bout his -2 in +/- in last years playoffs.

Not exactly what we were looking for when we signed him. Overall, a disapointing showing. Not sure why we would want to try again. Back with the Ducks this year he had 2 points in 6 playoff games and was -2 again. We really don't need guys that don't score and aren't good defensively no matter how big they are.

I can think of quite a few players on this years squad who put up similar numbers who people are bowing down to as great parts of our Cup run. The inconsistency is silly. Also, I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses or nostalgia. I'm not a Bertuzzi fan outside of his stay here, which I thought gave hints of what he could play like at full strength. He wasn't here long enough to be nostalgic for it. I'm just giving an unbiased opinion here. He's still got gas in the tank, he's in better form than he was with us, and if he'd take a smaller role and less cash, why the hell not?

[Skiing - Puck 0]

I would welcome him as a replacement for Drake. He has more offenceive production than Drake and is not as physical as he used to be.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I would welcome him as a replacement for Drake. He has more offenceive production than Drake and is not as physical as he used to be.

Bertuzzi would be the furthest thing from a replacement from Drake. The two of them are so beyond different players it isn't even comparable.

[VM1138 1,921]

Bertuzzi would be the furthest thing from a replacement from Drake. The two of them are so beyond different players it isn't even comparable.

When we all talk about a replacement for Drake, I don't think most of us literally mean a replacement for his role. I think we're simply thinking in terms of roster spot/veteran experience to win the Cup for, things. That being said, I'm not sure Bert would be a player the team could rally around in that scenario. So, to split hairs, I would think of Bert as more of an addition than a Drake replacement, too.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

Maybe because when you subtract nostalgia and look at the on-ice product Bertuzzi sucked in his time here.

A point every other game in his 8 regular season games..

7 points in 16 games in the playoffs

It might not be AMAZING, but it was far from sucking. On-Ice Production was fairly good imo for just coming off a back injury

[kylee 727]

id welcome him back.. im warming up to the idea.

[Booster313 138]

I wouldn't mind seeing him for the right price....but there are other free agents I would much rather have. That being said at least my friend Justin would be able to wear his Bert Jersey again.

[Production Line 1]

If you ever had back problems raise your hand...

He has had his problems and has realy not bounced back. I say hang them up. He prolly will try once more. It won't work...

[dicksmack 33]

Betuzzi is NOT an enforcer, by any stretch of the imagination.

He would have a hell of a lot more deterrence factor against cheapshotting our guys than Downey would. Enforcer? No. Deterrent ? Hell yes! And he has skill, which Downey doesn't. When I lived in Van, I watched him play a whole lot and I've seen opposing players give up the puck in a hurry rather than go into the corner with him. People left Naslund alone. Mind you, he was 20 or so pounds heavier and it was before his back problems. At this point in his career, Todd may realize that he needs to offer more than his skill and he should bulk up again. Somebody runs Lids/Pav/Zett? Bertuzzi gets two minutes for boarding, buddy's out of the game and the problem is solved directly.

If he had a whole year of playing with the team, compared to coming here as he did off of an injury and out of shape into the playoffs, he could do damage on the scoreboard and in the corners. And hopefully not in his vertebrae! Bert is a gamble and big fat

question mark but the payoff (insert Steve Moore joke here) could be nice.

[egroen 384]

Considering the salaries being thrown around for guys like Malone and all the cap space available right now, I have feeling Bertuzzi will find a taker at around $3 million for 2-3 years. Way more than Holland would be willing to spend.

[lets go pavel 2]

He would have a hell of a lot more deterrence factor against cheapshotting our guys than Downey would. Enforcer? No. Deterrent ? Hell yes! And he has skill, which Downey doesn't. When I lived in Van, I watched him play a whole lot and I've seen opposing players give up the puck in a hurry rather than go into the corner with him. People left Naslund alone. Mind you, he was 20 or so pounds heavier and it was before his back problems. At this point in his career, Todd may realize that he needs to offer more than his skill and he should bulk up again. Somebody runs Lids/Pav/Zett? Bertuzzi gets two minutes for boarding, buddy's out of the game and the problem is solved directly.

If he had a whole year of playing with the team, compared to coming here as he did off of an injury and out of shape into the playoffs, he could do damage on the scoreboard and in the corners. And hopefully not in his vertebrae! Bert is a gamble and big fat

question mark but the payoff (insert Steve Moore joke here) could be nice.

bulking up would most likely increase the chance of reinjuring the back ... bert hasn't played a physical game like you describe in years, and i don't think it's a matter of "realizing" he needs to ... he's a big body with skill, he can still create some space, but questionable health, less-than-great speed, questionable hunger ... i would pass ...

[therock48880 14]

Whoa, am I missing something here? An enforcer? WTF or who TF did he ever enforce?

I was responding to a poster who said Bertuzzi would solve the wings need for an eforcer. It blows my mind that some people consider him an enforcer. (although i did love it when he body slammed Phanuef)

[Dr. Scrappers 0]

And bear in mind Burke didn't just cut Bertuzzi simply because he was overpaid at $4 million. With Niedermayer coming back (again), and Perry going to be an RFA on July 1... Burke wanted to free up salary cap space so that nobody will make an offer sheet at Perry just because they think Burke won't have enough salary space to match. He wanted to reduce the chances of an offer sheet for Perry. Without that situation, he likely never would have bothered to waive Bertuzzi and thereby admit to a mistake. So even though Bertuzzi isn't worth $4 million, I think the whole waiving process makes Bertuzzi look less valuable than he actually is.

Also, as for us not re-signing Bertuzzi back when he was our property: remember that part of the deal with Florida was that if we re-signed him we would have to give Florida an additional first-round pick. That was a deterrent for us to re-sign Bertuzzi compared to Anaheim. So again here, the fact that we didn't re-sign Bertuzzi reflects worse on Bertuzzi than it should.

Now we could get him without giving up a first-round pick, and for less money. I doubt he's any less of a player now than he was when Holland was originally negotiating to get him re-signed. Holland will be talking to his agent, you can bet.

[therock48880 14]

He would have a hell of a lot more deterrence factor against cheapshotting our guys than Downey would. Enforcer? No. Deterrent ? Hell yes! And he has skill, which Downey doesn't. When I lived in Van, I watched him play a whole lot and I've seen opposing players give up the puck in a hurry rather than go into the corner with him. People left Naslund alone. Mind you, he was 20 or so pounds heavier and it was before his back problems. At this point in his career, Todd may realize that he needs to offer more than his skill and he should bulk up again. Somebody runs Lids/Pav/Zett? Bertuzzi gets two minutes for boarding, buddy's out of the game and the problem is solved directly.

If he had a whole year of playing with the team, compared to coming here as he did off of an injury and out of shape into the playoffs, he could do damage on the scoreboard and in the corners. And hopefully not in his vertebrae! Bert is a gamble and big fat

question mark but the payoff (insert Steve Moore joke here) could be nice.

Yeah, he sure deterred the Flames a couple years ago in the playoffs with the Wings. Without him there, Franzen may have taken a slash across the stomach from a goalie, Draper would have been cheapshotted repeatedly, and Schneider would have taken a butt-end from Iginla. Oh wait.......

Haveing said that, I wouldn't mind him on the third line for a much reduced salary but to view him as a deterrent at this stage of his career is ridiculous, imo. Btw, bulking up for someone with a bad back is not a good plan.

[Copenhagen848 58]

Yeah, he sure deterred the Flames a couple years ago in the playoffs with the Wings. Without him there, Franzen may have taken a slash across the stomach from a goalie, Draper would have been cheapshotted repeatedly, and Schneider would have taken a butt-end from Iginla. Oh wait.......

He did pick up and body slam Phaneuff, which was awesome to see

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Bertuzzi is not an enforcer, and as the announcer says in the video not known as a fighter.

Here's two of his three fights from last year.

for comparison, Bertuzzi had as many fights as Lillypads last year with 3. Drake had 5, Downey had 10.

[Casey 145]

Yeah, and Bertuzzi looks really tough leaving his helmet on. Pass.

[dicksmack 33]

If I had to chose between "dancing with Downey" or dealing with Bertuzzi I'd choose the former. Bertuzzi can run you through the end of the rink. I'd be more afraid of him while the game is on, than dropping the gloves. The Wings are going to face some nastiness as the team to beat this year. We'll need some phyical guys that can still play the game. Give Bertuzzi the whole year to get used to our game and he'd fit right in. Is Bertuzzi going to compete with a Laraque? No way. Can he add some toughness to this team? Damn straight. Bertuzzi isn't exactly a universally loved guy but if any organization can extract the most out of a guy like that, it's Detroit.

As I said, he's a big question mark for sure, but I think some of you guys underestimate what he can do for the right price. I kind of see it as do or die for him and he needs to remember how big he is and play that way.

[dicksmack 33]

Yeah, he sure deterred the Flames a couple years ago in the playoffs with the Wings. Without him there, Franzen may have taken a slash across the stomach from a goalie, Draper would have been cheapshotted repeatedly, and Schneider would have taken a butt-end from Iginla. Oh wait.......

Haveing said that, I wouldn't mind him on the third line for a much reduced salary but to view him as a deterrent at this stage of his career is ridiculous, imo. Btw, bulking up for someone with a bad back is not a good plan.

What's ridiculous is you thinking those examples were anything serious whatsoever lol...

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

If I had to chose between "dancing with Downey" or dealing with Bertuzzi I'd choose the former. Bertuzzi can run you through the end of the rink. I'd be more afraid of him while the game is on, than dropping the gloves. The Wings are going to face some nastiness as the team to beat this year. We'll need some phyical guys that can still play the game. Give Bertuzzi the whole year to get used to our game and he'd fit right in. Is Bertuzzi going to compete with a Laraque? No way. Can he add some toughness to this team? Damn straight. Bertuzzi isn't exactly a universally loved guy but if any organization can extract the most out of a guy like that, it's Detroit.

As I said, he's a big question mark for sure, but I think some of you guys underestimate what he can do for the right price. I kind of see it as do or die for him and he needs to remember how big he is and play that way.

I can understand that. At this point I just think Bertuzzi is damaged goods. That he'll never become the player he was, or could've been.

More than anything though, I'm guessing his price tag will still be too high. Some GM will want to overpay him.

[Rivalred 630]

I came home today and my dad stated that on the the radio (not sure what channel) the Wings are going to try to go after Bert... I looked at him with a weird look stating I thought they were going after Sundin + Rolston followed by "we will here a lot of BS over the next couple of days"...

[Dabura 12,232]

Bert's not coming back, guys.

[dicksmack 33]

I can understand that. At this point I just think Bertuzzi is damaged goods. That he'll never become the player he was, or could've been.

More than anything though, I'm guessing his price tag will still be too high. Some GM will want to overpay him.

You may be right Harold. It really comes down to dollars and cents. I don't like the idea of wasting a roster spot on a tough guy, strictly speaking. I'd rather insert some guy(s) who can do both, and in terms of the context of my comments, it would therefore obviate the need for a one-dimensional player. I spent 7 years living in Vancouver and watched him a lot when he was the premier power forward in the NHL; I may have more of the "old Todd" in mind, but if the money is right, he's a gamble that is high risk/high reward.