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Echolalia

Bert's role with the team

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I just saw this quote from Babs over at nhl.com:

"In my opinion, Todd Bertuzzi is one of these guys that everyone says wasn't great defensively, but he's very good defensively," Babcock said. "He played head-to-head against Nash for two games and I thought did an unbelievable job. There's lots of guys playing, but that’s one example of commitment to play away from the puck."

I honestly haven't been paying attention, but has Bert been paired up against the other team's top players as a shut-down forward ala Dats or Z any other time this season? I'm of the mindset that Babs is looking ahead to playoff time when historically we've had either Datsyuk or Zetterberg essentially shadowing other team's top players. If he's giving Bertuzzi one-on-one time with players like Nash (maybe some other stars in the future?) it may allow Dats and Z to remain on the same line when the time comes to verse Joe Thornton or Crosby or Ovechkin in the playoffs.

Then again, that whole line has really been hauling ass to cover our zone.

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Bert has always hustled back. The Bert is a floater thing was a reputation thing and the sheep mentality caught on and it just became LGW nature to say he floats. Every game I watch he usually ends up real deep in the offensive zone and he's just slow so it takes a while to get back to help out, but he always tries his best to be on of the first forwards back.

Plus it doesn't hurt when one of your fellow back checkers is Valtteri Filppula. When you're playing with vFlip, you automatically get +5 defensive awareness added to your abilities :P

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Bert has always hustled back. The Bert is a floater thing was a reputation thing and the sheep mentality caught on and it just became LGW nature to say he floats. Every game I watch he usually ends up real deep in the offensive zone and he's just slow so it takes a while to get back to help out, but he always tries his best to be on of the first forwards back.

Plus it doesn't hurt when one of your fellow back checkers is Valtteri Filppula. When you're playing with vFlip, you automatically get +5 defensive awareness added to your abilities :P

I think Bert looks pretty darn fast out there.

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As good defensively as Pav & Z are, they've always struggled to shut down the top power forwards - Nash & Getzlaf have always given us fits. If Babcock is turning Bert into a shutdown forward its more proof that he's the best coach in the league.

Very very true! But I might say he's the best in the World, or at least the Olympics only help his case towards that distinction.

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As good defensively as Pav & Z are, they've always struggled to shut down the top power forwards - Nash & Getzlaf have always given us fits. If Babcock is turning Bert into a shutdown forward its more proof that he's the best coach in the league.

Well I'd say Bert is the one who turned himself into a more defensively conscious player. He's at that stage where he just wants to win instead of trying to produce 100+ points seasons. Babcock definitely taught him here and there but unless you summon the effort yourself, you won't be a good defensive player.

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Well I'd say Bert is the one who turned himself into a more defensively conscious player. He's at that stage where he just wants to win instead of trying to produce 100+ points seasons. Babcock definitely taught him here and there but unless you summon the effort yourself, you won't be a good defensive player.

Yes mastah:

kung-fu-panda-sequel1.jpg

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He was actually on the ice with a min left in the first jackets game. I don't have a problem with his defense especially with his size which is probably why he was against Nash. The only problem I have is he's prone to penalties.

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Guest mindfly

I hardly noticed Nash out there and he had been on fire scoring like 8 goals in six games before the 2 detroit games... nice job bertuuuuuuzzzziii

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I think Bert looks pretty darn fast out there.

Exactly - the whole Bertuzzi being slow is just another bad stereotype.

I think Babcock is grooming Bertuzzi as another big defensive forward so he can handle big power forwards other teams can throw at us to free up Datsyuk and Zetterberg. It'll put less strain on them on the long run, Bertuzzi matches up physically, and it frees Dats and Z up offensively.

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Exactly - the whole Bertuzzi being slow is just another bad stereotype.

I think Babcock is grooming Bertuzzi as another big defensive forward so he can handle big power forwards other teams can throw at us to free up Datsyuk and Zetterberg. It'll put less strain on them on the long run, Bertuzzi matches up physically, and it frees Dats and Z up offensively.

Very true - No matter how great Pavel and Zetterberg are, you can't teach size...

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Bert, the second coming of Foppa. Be still my beating heart.

By the way, I herehear he's skating............again.

:siren: grammar police, grammar police :siren:

it says your location is MI - Only members of this board who do not speak English as a first language are given passes for such obvious flubs :ph34r:

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Guest mindfly

:siren: grammar police, grammar police :siren:

it says your location is MI - Only members of this board who do not speak English as a first language are given passes for such obvious flubs :ph34r:

What i don't get though is why 99% of the americans say "i could care less" when they actually mean "I couldn't care less" :siren:

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What i don't get though is why 99% of the americans say "i could care less" when they actually mean "I couldn't care less" :siren:

that one drives me nuts too...

other top offenders in my book, are the improper use of:

their, they're and there

and

your and you're

all of them are like nails on a chalkboard when I see them...

Edited by stevkrause

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:siren: grammar police, grammar police :siren:

it says your location is MI - Only members of this board who do not speak English as a first language are given passes for such obvious flubs :ph34r:

s***, caught for one of my own pet peeves. I guess no soup for me.

But I could care less anyway. :D

Edited by BigWillieStyle

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that one drives me nuts too...

other top offenders in my book, are the improper use of:

their, they're and there

and

your and you're

all of them are like nails on a chalkboard when I see them...

Let's not forget 'loose' instead of 'lose'. :)

Been rooting for Bert since his first stint. Awesome to see him productive and happy. He said something before the game last night about "feeding the Mule and keeping him happy". Great stuff.

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Bertuzzi gives us another awesome shut-down forward come playoff time. Teams had enough trouble dealing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I can't wait!

Not to mention a healthy (well, rested) Modano going into the post season. This playoff run has all the makings of being EPIC. Can't wait either.

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