Pucks 66 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 (edited) Think of it this way. That was the consistency he played with in a contract year? What will his play look like when he's locked up for 2-3 years? Float city. We get to watch him fumble passes and get called for phantom penalty's? No thanks! Edited May 20, 2010 by Pucks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I'm somewhat on the fence with this one. For the value, Bertuzzi was great this season and he really clicked with Hank and Fil on a line. However, the return of Hudler makes Bertuzzi more expendable to me. If Hudler is getting top six minutes like Babcock claims next season, I have to assume the most likely option to get bumped from the top six is Bertuzzi. I'm not sure how effective Bert would be on a line without Zetterberg, Filppula or Datsyuk. He makes a ton of errors (awful turnovers/bad penalties) as it is and those guys can cover them up to an extent. I guess I won't care either way however the Bertuzzi decision falls. If he comes back, that's fine. If he doesn't, then we can use that money towards a gritty forward for the bottom two lines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I think Bert will be good (perhaps rarely great) on any line as long as he realizes that no matter what line he's on, he has to screen the goaltender, bang in rebounds and retrieve loose pucks. Again, a GOOD fit, but rarely great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings_Dynasty 267 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I can see him signing a 3 year for around 900k. That would be fine with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I think Bert will be good (perhaps rarely great) on any line as long as he realizes that no matter what line he's on, he has to screen the goaltender, bang in rebounds and retrieve loose pucks. Again, a GOOD fit, but rarely great. he's a lot more useful around the net than anywhere else Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I think Bert will be good (perhaps rarely great) on any line as long as he realizes that no matter what line he's on, he has to screen the goaltender, bang in rebounds and retrieve loose pucks. Again, a GOOD fit, but rarely great. If he'd actually do that, and at a price similar to this year's, I'd be ok with him. Though I'd still prefer someone younger. What I'd expect, however, is that he'll be slow, not very physical, take dumb penalties, show a few flashes of skill, a few flashes of suck, and tons of mediocrity. If he does come back, I hope at the very least it's cheap enough that we can afford to carry 14 forwards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brett 1,029 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 4th line Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDavis35 140 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I like Bert, I'll take him back. Multi-year is a little risky, hopefully we can get a non-verbal agreement that we'll keep him around so long as he wants to play. (until a point of course) I just don't want a 39/40 yr old retiring on us mid-contract or worst-case scenario, playing but sucking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted May 21, 2010 4th line May as well let him go then and actually get someone that would be useful on the 4th line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted May 21, 2010 May as well let him go then and actually get someone that would be useful on the 4th line. It would free up some cap space as well.Raffi Torres and Brad Winchester.Please and thank you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dimaline312000 51 Report post Posted May 21, 2010 If the price is right and he can contine to contribute the way he did this season for a long period of time than I would be on board with re-signing Bert. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted May 21, 2010 With a guy like Torres - you get more fiestiness, and a few years younger, but probably a lower point production total, and he'll most likely cost us more towards the cap...Then again his rambunctious behavior would be warmly welcomed come next spring. He kinda reminds me of Lapointe. That's the knock on Torres is his price range.Brian Sutherby would be a good option too.Won't put up as much points tho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedFX 48 Report post Posted May 21, 2010 I think this year he's shown that as long as he stays healthy, he's still a solid power forward with a little bit of a scoring touch. I wouldn't be opposed to having him back, as long as he doesn't ask for a massive increase in salary. Obviously age and health are going to be big concerns with him this year, so I think you would need to bring back an Eaves/Miller for depth. 1 Lidstrom for life reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted May 22, 2010 (edited) This is what I expect the roster to look like next year if Bert and Homer both come back. Zetterberg Datsyuk Franzen Hudler Filppula Holmstrom Cleary Bertuzzi Abdelkader Helm Eaves Miller Draper Lidstrom Kronwall Rafalski Kronwall Stuart Lilja? Ericsson Kindl Meech? Bertuzzi will play on one of the first two lines. The wingers on the top-two lines will probably be Bert, Franzen, Homer, and Hudler. Hudler is probably opposite Homer so that there are two offensive players capable of singly opening up offensive space and making plays while Homer does his thing, with the Franzen/???/Bertuzzi line having more of a "big, strongwingers who can shoot and crash the net" feel to it. Or center Hudler between those two and put Z or Dats between Flip and Cleary. One or both of Lilja and Meech return. Lebda does not, and it's unlikely any other defenseman fills that 7th spot. The pairings will probably be shuffled around to avoid the Ericsson/Lebda circus from this past season, so we'll see stuff like Kindl/Stuart and Lidstrom/Ericsson, and depending on the roster we might see stuff like Ericsson/Lilja or Meech/Rafalski. Meech and Rafalski would be a pretty good offensive pair, thinking about it. Maybe try it out on the PP and put Kronner on the first unit. Edited May 22, 2010 by eva unit zero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted May 22, 2010 I'm for it as I imagine the price will be right and most haters seem to have no perspective that takes into account his fairly cheap salary. I think he's a good fit on this team, and I think it's really impressive that the guy came in and played a full 82 games. I mean, when we heard he got signed last summer, how many of us who liked the deal would've been happy if he played 60 games!? This year ought to give him more confidence as he showed that he's still got the touch. Some continuity could help that. He'll never be the player he was, but to think he couldn't contribute is absurd, especially given what is likely to be his price. And I'll say it again, I for one hope we win a Cup for him, and give him his ultimate redemption before his career is up. 1 Edillac reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted May 26, 2010 I'm for it as I imagine the price will be right and most haters seem to have no perspective that takes into account his fairly cheap salary. I think he's a good fit on this team, and I think it's really impressive that the guy came in and played a full 82 games. I mean, when we heard he got signed last summer, how many of us who liked the deal would've been happy if he played 60 games!? This year ought to give him more confidence as he showed that he's still got the touch. Some continuity could help that. He'll never be the player he was, but to think he couldn't contribute is absurd, especially given what is likely to be his price. And I'll say it again, I for one hope we win a Cup for him, and give him his ultimate redemption before his career is up. He's still got the touch and has the potential to score 25-30 a year. He needs to figure out, however, how to keep it going so that he doesn't go 20 games without a goal like he did this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites