Todd Bertuzzi--Still a Great Talent or Lightning in a Bottle?

[RedWingsFan1003 1]

Todd Bertuzzi, who turned 35 this past February, will become an unrestricted free agent July 1 unless signed before so. But before we just say "Keep him, Get rid of him, Keep him if the salary is right, I don't want him period," let's take a look at the numbers. Todd Bertuzzi's first 50-point season came in 1999-2000. In 80 games with Vancouver, Todd posted 25 goals and 25 assists. For the next five seasons after(excluding the lockout of 2004-05), Bertuzzi posted point totals of 55, 85, 97, 60, and 71. In those six seasons, he scored 174 goals and had 244 assists for 418 points in 464 games, missing only 28 games. Since being traded, to Florida and later Detroit during the 2006-07 season, Bertuzzi has scored 50 goals along with 89 assists for 139 points in 231, missing 97 games. Todd made $1.5 Million in 2009-10, and may seek an increase to stay with the club.

In short, if the Wings resign Bertuzzi, he will score between 14-20 goals and 25-30 assists in 2010-11, assuming he stays healthy.

Now, let's look at some players who can take Bertuzzi's place if the Wings decide not to resign him.

The top of the list would have to begin with Vinny Prospal. Also turned 35 this past February, Prospal scored 20 goals along with 38 assists for 58 points in 75 games with the New York Rangers in 2009-10. But to get a better sample of a player who cost a mere $1.15 Million, $350,000 less than each of the contracts signed last summer by Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams who amassed a total of just 59 points, let's look at Prospal's stats deeper. Prospal posted point totals of 45 or higher for the last eight consecutive seasons, the low being 45 points in 2008-09 and a high of 80 points in 2005-06. If he's willing to take just a $50,000 increase this summer to play with a Cup contender, Prospal would be a steal, and at least $300,000 less than Bertuzzi or Williams would accept.

Other players the Wings could acquire depending on contracts with Restricted Free Agents and Unrestricted Free Agents include:

Tomas Plekanec: MTL C 25G 45A 70PTS Plus-5 $2.75M(Expected contract $3.5M cap hit per season) 27 years old SCORER/PLAYMAKER

--Possesses excellent speed, hockey sense, and playmaking instincts; Good two-way player, and excels at the face-off circle, in the defensive zone, and killing penalties.

Dan Hamhuis: NSH D 5G 19A 24PTS Plus-4 $2.50M(Expected contract $3.5M cap hit per season) 27 years old DEFENSIVE-D'MAN

--Plays a good defensive game; Ability to log big minutes and can also be used in a shutdown role; Moves the puck well out of the defensive zone; Great hockey sense; Not very physical.

Matthew Lombardi: PHX C 19G 34A 53PTS Plus-8 $2.35M(Expected contract $2.5M cap hit per season) 28 years old PLAYMAKER/SCORER

--Has excellent PK skills; makes his linemates better with deft setup ability and possesses great speed; Accomplished face-off man; Is a good two-way player.

Arron Asham: PHI RW 10G 14A 24PTS Minus-2 $700K(Expected contract $700K cap hit per season) 32 years old PHYSICAL ROLE PLAYER

--Solid work ethic and is strong along the boards; Willing to crash the net to create scoring chances; Willing to drop the gloves with anyone.

Carlo Colaiacovo: STL D 7G 25A 32PTS Plus-8 $1.4M(Expected contract $1.4M cap hit per season) 27 years old DEFENSIVE-D'MAN

--Excellent all-around skater; Defensive, disciplined, and determined; Ability to join offensive rush; Very effective on Power Play and is used in all game situations; Hard, accurate shot from the point and an intelligent player with an excellent feel of the game.

Every Wings fan would love to have guys like these on the team. Maybe one or two of them will be. But as it stands, here is my roster for next season. Players in Blue Text are actually signed. Players in Red Text are anticipated contracts. I really think Lidstrom will want $6M if he comes back. But I'll leave it as is until I hear Lidstrom's decision within the next couple weeks. And the Cap may only increase by $100,000, but as is, it increased $900,000. This is a rough draft, and I won't pen in anything until I hear the final cap. And of course, none of my decisions count. That's why I'm here and Ken Holland is the GM. So many tough decisions, wow. KUDOS KENNY, YOU ARE AMAZING!!! THANK YOU!!

3/D LOGAN PYETT - age 22***--------$610,000 SALARY--------TWO-WAY CONTRACT-EXPECTED TO PLAY SEVEN GAMES

5/D NICKLAS LIDSTROM - age 40-----$5,000,000 SALARY--------2YR, $10M $5,000,000 CAP HIT

8/LW JUSTIN ABDELKADER - age 23--$1,000,000 SALARY--------3YR, $3.0M $1,000,000 CAP HIT

11/RW DAN CLEARY - age 31--------$3,000,000 SALARY--------3YR, $9M $2,800,000 CAP HIT

13/C PAVEL DATSYUK - age 32-------$6,700,000 SALARY-------4YR, $26.8M $6,700,000 CAP HIT

14/D DEREK MEECH - age 26----------$525,000 SALARY-------2YR, $1.05M $525,000 CAP HIT

17/RW PATRICK EAVES - age 26-------$550,000 SALARY-------2YR, $1.1M $550,000 CAP HIT

18/LW VINNY PROSPAL - age 35-----$1,200,000 SALARY-------1YR, $1.2M $1,200,000 CAP HIT

20/LW DREW MILLER - age 26--------$550,000 SALARY--------2YR, $1.1M $550,000 CAP HIT

23/D BRAD STUART - age 30---------$3,750,000 SALARY-------2YR, $7.5M $3,750,000 CAP HIT

26/RW JIRI HUDLER - age 26--------$2,875,000 SALARY-------2YR, $5.75M $2,875,000 CAP HIT

28/D BRIAN RAFALSKI - age 37------$6,000,000 SALARY-------2YR, $12M $6,000,000 CAP HIT

30/G CHRIS OSGOOD - age 37------$1,100,000 SALARY-------1YR, $1.1M $1,416,666 CAP HIT

32/RW ARRON ASHAM - age 32-------$700,000 SALARY-------2YR, $1.4M $700,000 CAP HIT

33/C KRIS DRAPER - age 39---------$1,250,000 SALARY------1YR, $1.25M $1,583,333 CAP HIT

35/G JIMMY HOWARD - age 26---------$800,000 SALARY-----1YR, $800K $716,666 CAP HIT

40/C HENRIK ZETTERBERG - age 29--$7,750,000 SALARY------11YR, $65.6M $6,083,333 CAP HIT

42/C MATTIAS RITOLA - age 23--------$500,000 SALARY-----3YR, $1.5M $516,667 CAP HIT

43/C DARREN HELM - age 23--------$1,500,000 SALARY-----5YR, $7.5M $1,500,000 CAP HIT

46/D JAKUB KINDL - age 23-----------$883,000 SALARY-----3YR, $2.65M $883,000 CAP HIT

51/C VALTTERI FILPPULA - age 26---$3,500,000 SALARY-----3YR, $10.5M $3,000,000 CAP HIT

52/D JONATHAN ERICSSON - age 26-$1,250,000 SALARY-----1YR, $1.25M $900,000 CAP HIT

55/D NIKLAS KRONWALL - age 29---$3,500,000 SALARY-----2YR, $7.25M $3,000,000 CAP HIT

93/RW JOHAN FRANZEN - age 30----$5,000,000 SALARY-----10YR, $38M $3,954,545 CAP HIT

96/LW TOMAS HOLMSTROM - age 37-$1,500,000 SALARY-----1YR, $1.5M $1,500,000 CAP HIT

AVERAGE AGE OF 2009-10 TEAM: 30.74--------------------------------2010-11 SALARY CAP: $57,700,000

AVERAGE AGE OF 2010-11 TEAM: 29.67 (+1.07)-----------------24 PLAYERS SIGNED FOR: $56,704,210

***-Salary not counted against cap unless player on team.--------REMAINING CAP SPACE: $995,790

[Guest Crymson]

Prospal and Babcock do not get along; this has been the case ever since Babcock coached Prospal in Anaheim, and it is allegedly why Holland did not attempt to sign Prospal during the off-season.

[Travis 576]

Is Plekanec an RFA? I'd imagine Montreal might give him a slightly higher raise than 3.5, but I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Winged Wheel. Even if he is ugly is all get out

[magicaldatsyuk 6]

i would much rather have plekanec then bertuzzi. hes young and is a great point producer. bertuzzi is getting too old.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Is Plekanec an RFA? I'd imagine Montreal might give him a slightly higher raise than 3.5, but I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Winged Wheel. Even if he is ugly is all get out

Plek is a UFA, Montreal doesn't have too much space in the cap and they still need to re-sign Halak - Price - Lapierre and much more RFA's that they've got.

If Montreal doesn't trade one of the high paid players they will be losing a key player(s).

There at 45 mil, with 17 skaters.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

lightning in a bottle? he's put up around 40 points for 3 years

plakanec will also cost a hell of a lot more than bertuzzi. no way montreal gets rid of him either.

[Z and D for the C 712]

If we could get Plekanec could be had for 3-3.5, then I'd love to take him over Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi is not a top 6 player IMO.

[Pucks 66]

Someone will probable give plec between 4-5 million this summer.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I'd take Hamhuis over another forward any day. I think someone will overpay for Plek, but if he could be had for 3-4 million I'd take him over Bertuzzi in a heartbeat (and these are words from a huge Bertuzzi lover).

[13dangledangle 965]

lightning in a bottle? he's put up around 40 points for 3 years

plakanec will also cost a hell of a lot more than bertuzzi. no way montreal gets rid of him either.

Thats what Im thinking too...Isnt Afinogenov free this year as well? He's a "lower" price as well and would make our second line great!

[weGotTheCup89 41]

I'm interested in Asham as a 4th liner and enforcer. He doesn't seem to be a liability, and other than more goals, I think he's the type of player we should be looking to add for a low salary.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Bertuzzi is far from great but he still has an uncanny ability to piss people off (sometimes Wings fans) and if he can stick with Mule and Hank...

DRIVE THE NET BERT f***!!!!!

[13dangledangle 965]

Bertuzzi is far from great but he still has an uncanny ability to piss people off (sometimes Wings fans) and if he can stick with Mule and Hank...

DRIVE THE NET BERT f***!!!!!

Ive said it before and Im going to keep saying it lol but I really think that Flip Bert Mule (not in that order) would be an amazing second line for us. This also puts Dats and Z back together on line one with??????????? who knows the answer to that? I think Hudler would do very well but Ive been riled for that before lol so what do you guys think?

Edited May 21, 2010 by 13dangledangle

[Lidstrom for life 20]

Ive said it before and Im going to keep saying it lol but I really think that Flip Bert Mule (not in that order) would be an amazing second line for us. This also puts Dats and Z back together on line one with??????????? who knows the answer to that? I think Hudler would do very well but Ive been riled for that before lol so what do you guys think?

I have actually thought about that. I think that would work quite well actually.

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk

Franzen-Filpulla-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Helm-Hudler

Eaves/Miller-Abdelkator-Ritola

Draper

I think that if Helm can progress a little bit offensively this gives us a dominant top line, two more lines that should be able to score fairly consistently, and a pretty solid fourth line.

As far as the OP's question I think Bertuzzi is certainly worth keeping if he can be had for around 1.5 million again. A guy who will likely have 40-50 points and is a hard worker and good back checker is a great asset at that price. I think ideally we would like to have one more goal scoring winger so if Holland can find a way to do that then great but I think the lineup we have is good enough to contend in the west so I don't expect a very exciting off season (unless of course Lidstrom retires).

EDIT: I will admit the idea of signing Lombardi intrigues me but I think he is the only one you list that would be a good "replacement" for Bertuzzi. Prospal has a reputation for being lazy and as someone stated Babcock doesn't want him. Plekanac would be great but we would need to lose more than just Bertuzzi's salary in order to sign him.

Edited May 22, 2010 by Lidstrom for life

[KonstantAdvisor 4]

I'm interested in Asham as a 4th liner and enforcer. He doesn't seem to be a liability, and other than more goals, I think he's the type of player we should be looking to add for a low salary.

Asham is worth picking up. If Philadelphia does not put an effort into holding onto him, Detroit should absolutely pursue that guy. If Bertuzzi wants a raise, he should probably move because he can do better and Detroit has some contract commitments already for the top 6. I'd take Asham over Plekanec as far as opportunity.