Bertuzzi, Cammalleri Happy To Be Back In Canada

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=247636&amp...os=topStory_nhl

Will be interesting to see if Bertuzzi can get some consistency going in his game ever again and if Calgary fans will completely open up to him due to his past emotional "baggage". And I'll just get it out of the way in case the "incident" comes up in this thread on where I stand. Bertuzzi is certainly at fault for what he did, but so are plenty of other people directly involved in it and I'm not going to say or mean that Bertuzzi is a slimeball or dirtbag or P.O.S. or whatever other explicatives for what he did. I just don't want to hear about the "incident" again and hope that everybody involved can eventually move on from it and be content moving on from it.

[edicius 3,269]

I have a feeling Bertuzzi's confidence may already be shot. If Brian Burke tossed him aside like old trash - and we know the man-crush Burke has/had for Bert - that's gotta shake him up a bit. He'll probably be adequate in Calgary, but I doubt he'll do anything special and he's definitely not going to end up back to old form.

[Cern 0]

He's irreversibly a shadow of his former self. If playing alongside not one but two Stanley Cup-winning rosters has kept him in perpetual mediocrity, how is playing in Calgary going to miraculously bring him back to form?

Though it has been amusing being in Calgary to listen to all the people calling into The FAN desperately trying to convince themselves that Todd freaking Bertuzzi is the missing link that's going to propel them out of the first round.

[Duck Guy 86]

He will have a couple point streaks where people will say oh ya good for him but overall he is done

[Cern 0]

He will have a couple point streaks where people will say oh ya good for him but overall he is done

To me his Calgary signing felt like a practical joke was pulled that only Vancouver, Florida, Detroit, and Anaheim are in on.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=247636&amp...os=topStory_nhl

Will be interesting to see if Bertuzzi can get some consistency going in his game ever again and if Calgary fans will completely open up to him due to his past emotional "baggage". And I'll just get it out of the way in case the "incident" comes up in this thread on where I stand. Bertuzzi is certainly at fault for what he did, but so are plenty of other people directly involved in it and I'm not going to say or mean that Bertuzzi is a slimeball or dirtbag or P.O.S. or whatever other explicatives for what he did. I just don't want to hear about the "incident" again and hope that everybody involved can eventually move on from it and be content moving on from it.

Is this a joke? Can one of the most classless group of fans of one of the most classless teams in the NHL get over Bertuzzi's "emotional 'baggage'?" They will revel in it. They'll hope he does it again. Seriously, they've tried it before, running our goaltender, attacking our players, and then doing it in the next round against teams like the Sharks. The Flames suck, Bertuzzi sucks, they deserve each other.

[Wings_Toledo 233]

No one has mentioned Cammalleri yet, even though he's in the thread title so I thought I'd just add that the thought of Cammalleri and Iginla possibly on the same line at some point is a bit scary. The rest of the team would have to improve for that situation to even matter, which I don't think they have or will anytime soon.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

He's irreversibly a shadow of his former self. If playing alongside not one but two Stanley Cup-winning rosters has kept him in perpetual mediocrity, how is playing in Calgary going to miraculously bring him back to form?

Though it has been amusing being in Calgary to listen to all the people calling into The FAN desperately trying to convince themselves that Todd freaking Bertuzzi is the missing link that's going to propel them out of the first round.

I disagree. Comparing Detroit and last seasons Anaheim team to Calgary is apples to oranges. If theres any team in the NHL that would suit Bertuzzi, its likely Calgary. They don't rely on speedy skating or puck possession. Theyre one of the few teams that has really been able to maintain relative success in the new NHL without dramatically adapting their game from their clutch-and-grab ways. And with Keenan behind the bench, that only helps. If you look at their roster, the only guy that really falls under the label of "skilled" is Cammy, and even Cammalleri is a scrappy little guy, much like Conroy. And thats how their likely going to approach this season. Not with speed, skill, puck possession, but by boxing out, brute strenght, bull-in-a-china shop type attitude. And when his linemates aren't flying through the neutral zone or making 4 or 5 tape to tape passes to head up the rush, its going to be a lot easier for Bertuzzi to fit into the system.

Now, thats not to say he's going to go back to his old ways. The new NHL itself is enough to plague a guy like Bert, and the baggage only exacerbates that issue, but what I wouldn't be surprised to see is a 25 goal, 50+ point campaign with the Flames that could lead him back to respectability where offense is concerned.

[Opie 308]

I disagree. Comparing Detroit and last seasons Anaheim team to Calgary is apples to oranges. If theres any team in the NHL that would suit Bertuzzi, its likely Calgary. They don't rely on speedy skating or puck possession. Theyre one of the few teams that has really been able to maintain relative success in the new NHL without dramatically adapting their game from their clutch-and-grab ways. And with Keenan behind the bench, that only helps. If you look at their roster, the only guy that really falls under the label of "skilled" is Cammy, and even Cammalleri is a scrappy little guy, much like Conroy. And thats how their likely going to approach this season. Not with speed, skill, puck possession, but by boxing out, brute strenght, bull-in-a-china shop type attitude. And when his linemates aren't flying through the neutral zone or making 4 or 5 tape to tape passes to head up the rush, its going to be a lot easier for Bertuzzi to fit into the system.

Now, thats not to say he's going to go back to his old ways. The new NHL itself is enough to plague a guy like Bert, and the baggage only exacerbates that issue, but what I wouldn't be surprised to see is a 25 goal, 50+ point campaign with the Flames that could lead him back to respectability where offense is concerned.

I will give you the apples to oranges in the Det comparison, but how is Ana really that much different in playing style than Cal, especially his role, which will be a power forward who can bang and score 40 or so points. Same as it was in Ana, and he had a decent year, but he is still a shadow of his former self!

[dobbles 252]

i think the biggest difference for bertuzzi will be expectations. he had a pretty decent year last year with 40 points. the problem was brian burke is an idiot and signed him to too big of a contract. they weren't exactly in a cap friendly situation with how niedermeyer and selanne f-ed them over, and needed to dump salary.

sure, the guy isn't going to put up 97 points like he did 5 years ago, but he is still a good player. the flames signed him for a much lower price and won't need him to put up huge numbers to be a great signing.

the problem now is with the fan base. half the people are suddenly forgetting they hated him, while the other half still can't let go the moore thing. but thats a debate thats been had too many times.

[dobbles 252]

Is this a joke? Can one of the most classless group of fans of one of the most classless teams in the NHL get over Bertuzzi's "emotional 'baggage'?" They will revel in it. They'll hope he does it again. Seriously, they've tried it before, running our goaltender, attacking our players, and then doing it in the next round against teams like the Sharks. The Flames suck, Bertuzzi sucks, they deserve each other.

last year the flames moved their ahl affiliate into my town. so i am a season ticket holder now because i love hockey. so i have become somewhat of a flames fan. but i also have been an active member on the calgary puck message board for a while now. and let me say this, i find their fans to be rather nice and easy to get along with. i will even be honest and say i feel more comfortable discussung things on their forum. too often fans on here resort to trolling. i have had a really good time discussing all kinds of hockey issues with their fan base. i think someone is still harboring a bit of resentment over the playoff loss 5 years ago...

[edicius 3,269]

last year the flames moved their ahl affiliate into my town. so i am a season ticket holder now because i love hockey. so i have become somewhat of a flames fan. but i also have been an active member on the calgary puck message board for a while now. and let me say this, i find their fans to be rather nice and easy to get along with. i will even be honest and say i feel more comfortable discussung things on their forum. too often fans on here resort to trolling. i have had a really good time discussing all kinds of hockey issues with their fan base. i think someone is still harboring a bit of resentment over the playoff loss 5 years ago...

You should have seen the board for the series against Calgary in '07. There were more than a few Calgary fans who came over here to "resort to trolling". I think that's where some of our recent resentment comes from. Thankfully, there were a couple GOOD Flames fans that came to the board and conducted themselves properly.

[dobbles 252]

gotcha. i guess thats how it goes. its usually the troll type people that take the time to register on other teams forums.

i have found as a red wings fan that i have been accepted on their forums and had lots of good debates with their fans during our playoff run.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

...once again, the media and fans are making something out of nothing, like they can feel so proud that they are happy to be back in Canada, like their something special, oh gee, what are they gonna say "God is SUCKS to be here in Calgary and Canada!" Get over it, Canada (and I am part Canadian!)

[swedishconnection 36]

the problem now is with the fan base. half the people are suddenly forgetting they hated him, while the other half still can't let go the moore thing. but thats a debate thats been had too many times.

That happened here. How many people started saying he was a great addition- just what we needed at the deadline when we got him?

I was one of them. Whats worse - He was my most hated player in the league prior to coming here. Before he got here he was a thorn in our side- always seemed to score against us in '04 and '06.

When we got him I was like "well, if you cant beat 'em..." I was actually excited to have a large, bruising winger.

Looking back- wow was I wrong. Crow please, extra cold. No garnishes either.

[dobbles 252]

hey, at least you can admit it which is more than most.

i don't have the same conflict of interest that has plagued fans of teams that pick him up because i don't hold any ill will against him for the moore incident. i think it was an accident and that he has got shafted pretty good because of it. though when the wings picked him up, i was disappointed just because he didn't seem to have anything left in the tank. though i totally thought kyle calder was going to be the bomb that spring!!!!! j/k ;-)

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I dont know about Cammalleri or Bertuzzi, but I'm excited to see Andre Roy live this year

Edited August 28, 2008 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I will give you the apples to oranges in the Det comparison, but how is Ana really that much different in playing style than Cal, especially his role, which will be a power forward who can bang and score 40 or so points. Same as it was in Ana, and he had a decent year, but he is still a shadow of his former self!

Anaheim wasn't comparable to Calgary last season. They were comparable to Calgary two seasons ago where their main game was pushed by a physical edge coupled where even Scott Niedermayer was playing as fiesty a role as ever. This past seasons Anaheim team allowed that to go by the wayside and their offense itself was a messy patchwork quilt of band-aids.

[TeeMan 52]

Have a look at this.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2008/...584741-sun.html

[Cern 0]

...once again, the media and fans are making something out of nothing, like they can feel so proud that they are happy to be back in Canada, like their something special, oh gee, what are they gonna say "God is SUCKS to be here in Calgary and Canada!" Get over it, Canada (and I am part Canadian!)

What I don't get is why now of all times is his 'second chance'. Even if you want to exclude his stint in Florida he's had a 'fresh start' two times in as many seasons.

the problem now is with the fan base. half the people are suddenly forgetting they hated him, while the other half still can't let go the moore thing. but thats a debate thats been had too many times.

Calgary's 'fan'base has been a problem for years, Bertuzzi or no. Growing up here, it's amazing how many 'lifetime' fans suddenly emerged from the woodwork in 2004. I don't know where they were all this time, but they sure as hell weren't in the Saddledome.

Edited August 28, 2008 by Cern

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

I dont know about Cammalleri or Bertuzzi, but I'm excited to see Andre Roy live this year

Imagine how fun Calgary v Vancouver games are going to be be..

I'm really looking forward to both teams and with them both going haed 2 head.. should be epic

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Imagine how fun Calgary v Vancouver games are going to be be..

I'm really looking forward to both teams and with them both going haed 2 head.. should be epic

Any of the CGY/EDM/VAN games will be great. I cant wait haha.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Calgary's 'fan'base has been a problem for years, Bertuzzi or no. Growing up here, it's amazing how many 'lifetime' fans suddenly emerged from the woodwork in 2004. I don't know where they were all this time, but they sure as hell weren't in the Saddledome.

You can probably say the same thing about Red Wing fans over the past 10 years or so when they've been consistently solid, or lay that claim for pretty much any team if they get a solid winning streak going.

Attendance numbers go up when teams win more often than not, they go down when teams lose more often than not. That's natural.

What you are talking about isn't necessarily bad.