Bertuzzi SUCKS

[Guest mindfly]

And I agree with the article.... sorry bert

[Marty Barry 230]

To me, the mere fact that the opinion, in it's entirety was published says something about the publications own opinion. Maybe they are feeling the same and just wanted it to reach Bert.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

He had 2 games in a row where he got the OT winner. He also now plays on the second line with Cleary and Flip, not Dats and Z.

That is all.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Bert is the same as when he began here... he's fast and gets to the right place, then misses/messes up the pass, or creates a turnover. I still don't see anyone's fascination for him for a few goals during a 9-man injury streak where players were focused on defense (minus bert).

[puckhog419 0]

If he isn't afraid to shoot the puck and hit someone, he is ok in my book.

He has produced my than I expected from him this season.

[Cowtown-DC5 0]

Here we go again... Bertuzzi not scoring and the Wings not winning, blame it on the $1.5 mil guy.

[bdavis 28]

He is a very inconsistent player. In the beginning, he wasn't very good. Then he turned up the intensity of his game, and looked like a 40-50 goal scorer. Now, he looks like he did back in the beginning of the season. Why? What happened to his intensity? Did he score 15 goals and say, "Well, for 1.5 mil thats good enough"? You want to get resigned at a higher amount that 1.5 mil, then play like it damn it! I see it as him playing for his job. He had glimpses of looking like someone that could be payed double or triple that 1.5 mil.

Edited February 13, 2010 by bd2988

[Dano33 41]

Here we go again... Bertuzzi not scoring and the Wings not winning, blame it on the $1.5 mil guy.

It shouldn't matter how much he makes. If he is getting top six minutes he needs to show some effort out there. Unless he has the puck on his stick with a chance to go to the net, he is a floater. He doesn't work hard in either zone, offensive or defensive. His stats may look ok for a 1.5 mil guy, but the amount you make shouldn't determine how hard you have to work.

[Pucks 66]

He plays the game of a little skilled player. The problem is he's a big body that should play like a power forward like Franzen. Every team thinks he will play the way they covet, but he won't. He has just enough flashes to tease you, but in the end you'll be disappointed. This season, for the money it's hard to criticize him much. If they sign him for a couple more seasons after this, they will be sorry and he will be the number one whipping boy around here. The new "Lazy and sucks" of LGW.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

people surprised that bertuzzi is inconsistent

[Guest Crymson]

You'll all need to excuse me. I had forgotten that ever player on the Red Wings must have the offensive abilities of Ovechkin, the defensive abilities of Datsyuk, and the physical abilities---albeit without the dirtiness---of Pronger.

It shouldn't matter how much he makes. If he is getting top six minutes he needs to show some effort out there. Unless he has the puck on his stick with a chance to go to the net, he is a floater. He doesn't work hard in either zone, offensive or defensive. His stats may look ok for a 1.5 mil guy, but the amount you make shouldn't determine how hard you have to work.

Bertuzzi has been playing with a ton of effort, so far as I've seen.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I think more of you hate Bertuzzi and that fuels your arguments. I've always watched him closely no matter what team he's played for. This year he's backchecked hard, he's hustled all over the place, actually playing decent defence for once in his career. Bertuzzi doesnt suck, and he certainly isnt holding down the team.

[Majsheppard 203]

Bertuzzi dragging down Wings

There has been alot of screaming over Bertuzzi. I find most people are all about Bertuzzi do to his alleged status as the Wings leading scorer.

I enjoyed this article, maybe it can bring some of the random fighting over him to an end.

[Pucks 66]

You'll all need to excuse me. I had forgotten that ever player on the Red Wings must have the offensive abilities of Ovechkin, the defensive abilities of Datsyuk, and the physical abilities---albeit without the dirtiness---of Pronger.

Bertuzzi has been playing with a ton of effort, so far as I've seen.

Would it kill the guy to finish a check in the attacking zone instead of curling away every time? Honest question. Eaves checks harder than he does. He makes a lot of boneheaded plays. He takes silly penalties, some of which I think are more reputation calls though. If he played a harder north, south game he would be so much better and more valuable and he'd even make more money for himself and his family.

It is what it is, at least his skating is much improved since his first go here. Maybe he'll play playoff hockey once the playoffs begin, assuming we're in of course.

[Z and D for the C 712]

This column was submitted by a freep.com reader and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Click here to submit your own column.

Just a disclaimer.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Datsyerberger 279]

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland's hockey expertise heavily outweighs mine. It's kind of like comparing the brain capacity of Albert Einstein versus Pee Wee Herman.

Article should've ended there.

And his career plus-minus rating of minus-46 backs that up.

Or maybe there, where the writer uses +/- without context and proves well enough for me his or her inadequacies in comparison to the above.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Datsyerberger

[Lidstrom for life 20]

"This year has been lousy, but if Bertuzzi is removed from the Red Wings bench, there's considerable hope another Cup run can be made this spring."

That is just pure lol. I mean even if you don't like Bertuzzi do you think dropping him out of the line-up suddenly makes us a cup contender? Wow. Why would the free press even print this? Oh right...because its a terrible excuse for a newspaper.

[cjm502 165]

Bert: 4th on team in points, second in goals. $1.5m.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I'm sorry but that was such a bulls*** and uncalled for article, I seriously don't get the hate on him. He's been fine this season and is second in goals. He's doing his job and he's been off for awhile but who the heck hasn't been? He'll find his groove again. He's been helping the team not hurting.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

The random fighting about Bertuzzi is not going to end because of some reader submitted article on freep.

The "writer" acts like Bertuzzi is the only one on the team making turnovers. What about the poor defensive play by the defenseman? Bertuzzi makes $1,500,000 and has 15 G and 18 A. Who does the "writer" suggest replaces that offense at that price? The Wings don't have the luxury to afford the top 6 forward that this "writer" is alluding to. Bertuzzi is a bargain, is not the terrible player that the "writer" makes him out to be and can contribute on the score sheet.

Freep should now allow a reader submitted article describing how Flip sucks, Helm is a first line centerman and how Ozzie is the worst goaltender in the history of the sport.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Here is what I think of Bertuzzi. I think anyone who thinks we can have a line of Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom again and do well is kidding themselves. That line shined when we had our second line full of AHLers and Bert was just inexplicably hot during those 7 or 8 games. That is not a line that will perform over time. I also don't think that putting him with Zetterberg will yield any significant results. Zetterberg isn't performing well at all, and he damn sure can't carry another underachiever on his wing. In both of these cases he's going to be the #2 guy, and that just won't work for him, or the team.

So, when you split up Datsyuk and Zetterberg and try to have a 1a/1b thing, I think you end up having a 2a/2b. I'm sure no one will be surprised to see my solution, Datsyuk and Zetterberg together, and then Franzen Filppula and Bertuzzi on the second line. ZDH is proven, and Datsyuk and Zetterberg are re-kindling their chemisty. This line probably won't be as good as it was in 07-08, but it is the clear cut best line we can put together, and that should be our first line. Then we have our second line With Franzen-Filppula being the main pair and Bertuzzi being the #3 guy, WHERE HE SHOULD BE. Bertuzzi is still a guy who scored almost 100 points, and he knows how to be great. When he is counted on to produce he'll be found wanting, but as a supplemental guy I think he's in the perfect place.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

"This year has been lousy, but if Bertuzzi is removed from the Red Wings bench, there's considerable hope another Cup run can be made this spring."

That is just pure lol. I mean even if you don't like Bertuzzi do you think dropping him out of the line-up suddenly makes us a cup contender? Wow. Why would the free press even print this? Oh right...because its a terrible excuse for a newspaper.

I recall games in which the Wings only won because of Bertuzzi. Take away Bertuzzi and the Wings could be even more removed from a playoff spot.

[toby91_ca 620]

Bert: 4th on team in points, second in goals. $1.5m.

Exactly. This appears to be lost on most people. I think a lot of people want to see the Bertuzzi of old, early 2000s when he played for Vancouver. But he's not that player anymore and he's not paid to be that player anymore.

He currently sits 4th on the team in points and he's 1 goal away from the team lead in goals. The 3 guys ahead of him in points have an average salary of $6.8 million while he's paid $1.5 million. You have to go all the way to 10th in scoring on the team before you find a guy making less money.

No point in sugar coating it, if this team is going to be succussful, Datsyuk and Zetterberg need to score more.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Exactly. This appears to be lost on most people. I think a lot of people want to see the Bertuzzi of old, early 2000s when he played for Vancouver. But he's not that player anymore and he's not paid to be that player anymore.

He currently sits 4th on the team in points and he's 1 goal away from the team lead in goals. The 3 guys ahead of him in points have an average salary of $6.8 million while he's paid $1.5 million. You have to go all the way to 10th in scoring on the team before you find a guy making less money.

No point in sugar coating it, if this team is going to be succussful, Datsyuk and Zetterberg need to score more.

Exactly. Where's the article on this though? Oh, that's right. It's the guy who makes $1.5 million, was signed to be a 3rd line player, who is 4th on the team in points and who is 2nd in goals that is causing the Wings to suck.

[FireCaptain 563]

Yeah, they want THIS Bertuzzi.

Watch the vid, it's pretty funny if you haven't seen it in a while.

People need to get more realistic with their player expectations..

Exactly. This appears to be lost on most people. I think a lot of people want to see the Bertuzzi of old, early 2000s when he played for Vancouver.

Edited February 13, 2010 by FireCaptain