Bertuzzi, Lilja

[plopster 136]

So, yes this is my first post after visiting letsgowings for some time. Im a HUGE wings fan and can't believe I have to say this about one the players, but DAMN Ken please trade Bertuzzi at some point this season. That guy has no emotion, has terrible handling skills and cant hit the broad side of a barn. I have seen so many of his passes off target for turnovers that turn into scoring chances and shots that completely miss or ring off the post of the goal. He constantly fumbles passes to him that end up being poor entrances into the zone or turnovers altogether. Come on, please get rid of this guy for the love of hockey. He is horrible and should by all rights be in jail for his thuggery on Moore. I sure hope others are with me on this.

On a positive note, Lilja is being reported as not having a headache since visiting a chiropractor and is practicing with the team. This could be great for the D as the wings will sure need depth there with the style of game being played now. And Ericsson can always use a couple games off here and there, since he pops back in the lineup and is the cause of a goal being scored.

[Herr Hockey 0]

Bertuzzi has easily been one of the hardest working forwards on the ice night in and night out. He's also been suprisingly responsible defensively. Blocking shooting lanes, passing lanes, and even a little back checking. Have you been watching reruns of the 2007 playoffs or something?

[Echolalia 2,961]

There are a couple other Bertuzzi threads that have been made in the past 20 hours, as well as a Lilja thread. Anyway, Bert has been following a steep sine function in terms of his skill, but overall he is steadily improving with familiarity on the team.

I would love to hear an alternative for his role that Holland could pick up at Bert's price, if you can think of anyone.

Also, welcome to the boards.

[hooon 1,089]

Do you even watch the games? Bert hasnt found the net too much, but he works his ass of out there. We also signed him at a great price. What could we POSSIBLY get for him in return?

Also, no, he should not be in jail for his 'thuggery'. I don't condone what he did, (there are a number of threads on this already) but he has more than paid for it, and he's also a really humble and friendly guy off the ice.

I sure hope others AREN'T with you on this.

[zettie85 106]

Do you even watch the games? Bert hasnt found the net too much, but he works his ass of out there. We also signed him at a great price. What could we POSSIBLY get for him in return?

Also, no, he should not be in jail for his 'thuggery'. I don't condone what he did, (there are a number of threads on this already) but he has more than paid for it, and he's also a really humble and friendly guy off the ice.

I sure hope others AREN'T with you on this.

I don't think there are too many with him on this.

[Namingway 146]

Things will start going his way. If all those shots of his that hit the post so far were in, he'd be 2nd on the team for goals

Just wait till the season rolls on some more before requesting some sort of trade.

On the side note, I think it'd benefit Ericsson for being able to play alongside with Lilja. He could learn a thing or two about using his big body to block some shots and some other stuff. He'd also have less defensive responsibilities of having to play with Lebda as well. Win win situation.

Edited November 6, 2009 by Namingway

[edicius 3,269]

I'm not even a big Bert fan and even I can see that he's been hustling his ass off out there.

[plopster 136]

I will agree he has been a hard worker on D. Then he gets the pick on his stick and tries to pass it off to exit the zone and turns it over. Example last night, I believe it was the first peeriod and he gets it in the zone, tries to make a soft touch pass to the guy rotating behind him and it goes right to the shark in front just waiting for it. could have easily been a goal if ozzie weren't standing on his head like he has been. then he completely misses the net like 4 times, and on a powerplay he slaps it right to the guy that dives in front of him. I see this type of play every game. yes the work ethic is there. the skill is not. his game doesn't fit in with this team. if it were samuelson out there, the rush up the ice would be so much more refined and smooth and there would be so many more quality chances. Datsyuk has got to be pulling his hair out with this guy fumbling passes right on his stick. the assist he got tuesday against boston would not have happened if that pass were to someone besides pavel or hank. only those two could have gotten that wild pass to the ice, under control and right on the stick to holmer for the tip in. berts play is just so unrefined and sporadic. its like hes having a seizure when the puck is on his stick. it just drives me nuts.

Edited November 6, 2009 by plopster

[Yzerfan1999 81]

He has been OKAY. I'd like him to start hitting the net, and not committing so many giveaways in the defensive zone. He had 2 or 3 last night.

[Namingway 146]

Without him, we wouldn't really have any big body presence around. Although he doesn't throw his body around the way he used to, he still does and just having his presence around helps. Without him we'd have Ericsson and he's not really that much of a mean hitter. I don't think Kenny Holland brought him over to score goals and make awesome plays but to chip in which he has been doing.

[cupforwings 138]

yeah, you are wrong... Bert has been one of our best players so far this year.

[Vladifan 680]

This is a test.

[Dano33 41]

I will agree he has been a hard worker on D. Then he gets the pick on his stick and tries to pass it off to exit the zone and turns it over. Example last night, I believe it was the first peeriod and he gets it in the zone, tries to make a soft touch pass to the guy rotating behind him and it goes right to the shark in front just waiting for it. could have easily been a goal if ozzie weren't standing on his head like he has been. then he completely misses the net like 4 times, and on a powerplay he slaps it right to the guy that dives in front of him. I see this type of play every game. yes the work ethic is there. the skill is not. his game doesn't fit in with this team. if it were samuelson out there, the rush up the ice would be so much more refined and smooth and there would be so many more quality chances. Datsyuk has got to be pulling his hair out with this guy fumbling passes right on his stick. the assist he got tuesday against boston would not have happened if that pass were to someone besides pavel or hank. only those two could have gotten that wild pass to the ice, under control and right on the stick to holmer for the tip in. berts play is just so unrefined and sporadic. its like hes having a seizure when the puck is on his stick. it just drives me nuts.

To me it sounds like you haven't forgiven Bert for the incident and you are looking for reasons to get him off of the team. Bottom line is, we won't find someone better for the price. You need to get over it and realize that Bert is not a bad player.

[robb himself 143]

Bertuzzi has looked awesome this season and HORRIBLY unlucky hitting more posts than I can remeber anyone doing this early in a season. His luck will turn around and he will start putting up big numbers along side Datsyuk. I also think we should bring Janik back up and put him beside Ericsson. I really liked what I saw from him when he was up. Make Lebda the 7th and send Meech away.

[hooon 1,089]

Bertuzzi has looked awesome this season and HORRIBLY unlucky hitting more posts than I can remeber anyone doing this early in a season. His luck will turn around and he will start putting up big numbers along side Datsyuk. I also think we should bring Janik back up and put him beside Ericsson. I really liked what I saw from him when he was up. Make Lebda the 7th and send Meech away.

Sorry dude... hitting posts is not 'unlucky' as you say. It means he missed the net, really no different than missing completely. He's close, but not close enough. I dunno why but I always get bothered when people claim that hitting the post is unlucky. It means that the shots werent aimed properly, not that some mystical force determined that puck would come close, but not close enough.

I think things will turn around for Bert, and i think hes been working hard.

[gcom007 1,465]

Fail.

[Rivalred 630]

This thread reminds me of a movie I saw one time.... Wish I could remember the name of it... Oh yea, it was "Failure" to launch.

Bert has been playing hard and creating many chances.

[robb himself 143]

everyone needs a little luck now and then...I dont care who you are...

Bertuzzi's luck will show up

[maltbymaniac 13]

he does hustle out there,but his passing skills r subpar

[plopster 136]

Again, I won't deny the hard work, but the skill isn't there. This would not be so glaring to me if Franzen were not hurt. Without Johan, someone needs to step up and put points on the board, and you can't do that when one of your top lines has a guy screwing the pooch on the rush. like it has been said, he takes bad shots, he just needs to feed datsyuk and whoever the other linemate is at the time and make sure it gets on their stick and not at the feet or behind them or bouncing to them. So irritating. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt coming to a new system, but it has been over a month, still off target more than on. If he doesn't do anything against even the poor showing leafs tomorrow, he will just be fail.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Again, I won't deny the hard work, but the skill isn't there. This would not be so glaring to me if Franzen were not hurt. Without Johan, someone needs to step up and put points on the board, and you can't do that when one of your top lines has a guy screwing the pooch on the rush. like it has been said, he takes bad shots, he just needs to feed datsyuk and whoever the other linemate is at the time and make sure it gets on their stick and not at the feet or behind them or bouncing to them. So irritating. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt coming to a new system, but it has been over a month, still off target more than on. If he doesn't do anything against even the poor showing leafs tomorrow, he will just be fail.

Skill isn't there? He's been getting the best scoring chances among everyone on the team and has set up some beautiful goals. Theres a difference between not having skill and simply being snake bitten (constantly hitting the post). Bertuzzi is the latter. You either haven't been watching the games or are simply blind.

[Carman 387]

Sorry dude... hitting posts is not 'unlucky' as you say. It means he missed the net, really no different than missing completely. He's close, but not close enough. I dunno why but I always get bothered when people claim that hitting the post is unlucky. It means that the shots werent aimed properly, not that some mystical force determined that puck would come close, but not close enough.

I think things will turn around for Bert, and i think hes been working hard.

I disagree. There isn't a player in the world that can aim his shot perfectly. There is luck involved. Not aiming properly is seeing Samuelsson's shot go 20 feet over the net(Although I do recall seeing Bertuzzi do the exact same thing on a 2v1 ), missing a goal by barely a centimeter isn't really not aiming properly in my opinion.

[Copenhagen848 58]

Bertuzzi has been working his ass off, I wish his work ethic this season would rub off on a few others. I'd much rather have him be trying too hard and make a few mistakes than not trying at all.

In other news, this thread sucks....

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

He seems kind of weak on the puck, prone to losing it when facing little or no pressure, he makes weird passes and occasional turnovers, but I can't complain. He's generated a lot of scoring chances and can't quite finish (this was not unlike the entire Red Wings team last night), and he's not getting paid very much.

[Lidstrom for life 20]

Bertuzzi has been working his ass off, I wish his work ethic this season would rub off on a few others. I'd much rather have him be trying too hard and make a few mistakes than not trying at all.

In other news, this thread sucks....

This. Bertuzzi was easily one of our best players last night. He created several scoring chances, true he didn't score but creating chances for himself and his line is really all you can ask for. When Helm creates opportunities it is because hes amazing but when Bertuzzi does it...well he can't finish so hes lazy and he sucks? No.