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Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:18 pm EDT

Flame On: Calgary fans rather angry over Todd Bertuzzi signing

By Greg Wyshynski

A few signings of note today: R.J. Umberger goes for four years and $15 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who seem intent on using him as Rick Nash's center next season (remember that come fantasy draft time); Matt Stajan gets a two-year deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs that, we can only assume, does not feature a no-trade clause; Dennis Seidenberg re-upped with the Carolina Hurricanes as a RFA; and finally, Todd Bertuzzi signed with the Calgary Flames.

Or as the Flames blog Five Hole Fanatics, which had whispers of this deal earlier this morning, analyzed the signing: "Puke."

That was before a more candid and profane reaction soon after the signing.

Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the Flames today, reuniting him with a coach that thinks so highly of the power forward that he traded Roberto ... traded Roberto ... god, I can't even finish that. You remember what happened.

I imagine the following reaction from a Flames fan named Nathan is going to be the majority opinion today:

Please go away. I do not want your injuries. I do not want your legal problems. I do not want your cap space. I know for a fact you will create a distraction in the locker room by simply being on the roster. I know for a fact that you will not play all 82/84 games. I know for a fact that you are slow and will not be able to keep up with the rush. I pray that you will prove me wrong Todd.

He could prove'em wrong: The Flames just signed a player, who had 40 points in 68 games, for just over $500,000 more than they're going to pay Wayne Primeau next season. It's a cheap investment for a team that didn't think Owen Nolan was worth $2.25 million per season for producing less offensively than Bertuzzi did in an awful year with the Anaheim Ducks.

But now Nolan is with the Minnesota Wild, and Bertuzzi is back in Canada with the Flames, thanks in large part to an endorsement from Jarome Iginla. For the Flames, this move comes during an off-season in which half of their top six forwards are no longer with the team. So if fans are a little baffled by the Bertuzzi signing, it's understandable. But the expectations are so low for Bert that a reasonably healthy year and a push for 20 goals will seem like a comeback.

The basic reaction to Bertuzzi has always been love/hate based on current behavior, output and affiliation. This hockey announcers spoof featuring comedian Danny Mendlow (video) is a little old, but really gets the whole Bertuzzi mania: He's a fan favorite after a goal, and the most hated man in town after the next blown opportunity. (Beware a funny but very NSFW-language stretch from 3:20-3:50 mark. The rest is clean.)

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism

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88 Comments

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  1. Tacks
    1. Posted by Tacks Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Good luck Todd. Everyone else should let it go already, yikes.
  2. Bubbabanjo
    2. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Wyshynski you stink.
    Bertuzzi was just one goon going after another. That Ham and Egger tried to take out Naslund and had it coming. Much like Brashear did when he took out Bostons goalie for the year and McSorley planted him. Play like a goon. Get dropped like a goon. Thats what enforcers do.
    Bertuzzi is just too much coin for a broken down old horse.
  3. lyle s
    3. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    im just glad the scum bag is gone!!!! bad enough getting all the flak over prongs....dont need the added insults :)) ...glad to see that distraction gone!!!!
  4. tmr
    4. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    What he did to Steve Moore can't be undone. But if Bertuzzi could go back in time and undo it, he would. No amount of Bertuzzi bashing is going to compensate Steve Moore for his loss. As long as the law is satisfied, let him play. He's no more guilty than any of the dozens of cheap-shot artists that got away with breaking the faces (hits from behind) and wrists (two-handed chop) of many players through the years. They were just lucky that their injuries weren't as bad as Moore's. If you sit Bertuzzi down, fine, then set them all down. Otherwise, let it go and let the man play.
  5. lyle s
    5. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    let him play, but he really doesnt do much except spend time warming the sin bin...
  6. Dewman
    6. Posted by Dewman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Yep... let it go. He was just Marc Crawford's pawn. Steve Moore was a hack, and Colorado fans should be glad he's gone (not hurt) just not on the team. Moore knows better than to turn his back on a goon when his team is up 6-0. Its too bad what happened, but Bertuzzi did what every goon would have. This time someone actually got hurt, it could happen in every game. If someone knocked Crosby out for a few games with a concussion, legal hit or not (like Moore did to Naslund), you can bet whatever goon the Pens employ will do the same. If that player is dumb enough to turn his back on him, then it will happen again.
  7. ewryg
    7. Posted by ewryg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    What bertuzzi did to steve moore was absolutely neccessary. The nhl needs way less useless pieces of crap like steve moore going after other teams best players. If steve moore ever returns to the nhl, which hopefully he wont because he's useless, i hope tood bertuzzi injures him again. The steve moore icident was one of the greatest things to ever happen in the nhl. If the league is not going to punish morons like steve moore for elbowing other teams players in the head, then its up to guys like todd bertuzzi to take care of the problem. Steve moore- what a joke. Did anyone actually think his injury would have any impact on the league. If anything, steve moores absense has made the nhl better.
  8. Magnet-Crotch
    8. Posted by Magnet-Crotch Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    Todd Bertuzzi always has been a flamer anyway.
  9. Bubbabanjo
    9. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Steve Moore did his job too. Nothing wrong with the dude. He just paid the price. Would have rather seen him get a knuckle sandwich and not get hurt. But play like a goon....pay like a goon.
    Wyshynski stinks!
  10. Craig H
    10. Posted by Craig H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Moore didnt pur Naslund in the hospital with a clearly obvious cheap shot.
    Bertuzzi is a coward and a felon.
    Plain and simple.
    The game took McSorley out for his attack and he was black balled for life.
    Why not Bertuzzi?
    Its disgusting.
  11. books
    11. Posted by books Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Can you let the Moore situation go already people? Every bloody time someone says Bertuzzi they have to tack on the Moore. I'm sick of the broken record of a predictible idiotic debate that follows every single bloody Bertuzzi Rumour/comment. Here's an idea...why don't they just get married so we can hyphenate the name and move on. (Although this wont go over nearly as well in Calgary as it would have in Vancouver) How's this sound...Mr Todd Bertuzzi-Moore...it couldn't be Moore-Bertuzzi due to obvious choice of who would be the 'female dog'.)
    But seriously as a Flames fan since the early 80's I love this move. The Flames need grit and scoring and if the Brute is back he is a cheap fill. As soon as I heard about Ana releasing him I thought this would be a good move. Looks like I actually got one right...time to step aside Jean Dixon!!!!
  12. KP
    12. Posted by KP Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    hey books, it'd have to be Bertuzzi-Moore because if it were Moore-Bertuzzi, someone would have to go out and define a bertuzzi so that everyone could get a joke about what exactly more bertuzzi is, and if anyone wants more anyway
  13. Bubbabanjo
    13. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Donald Brashear has a reason to have a chip on his shoulder. Watch the movie about his uncle Carl Brashear "Men of Honor". His uncle was one tough SOB. A true man of honor. They have put up with a lot of crap in their lives as black men.
    Donald was just doing his job. McSorley was too when he took him down. So was Bertuzzi and Steve Moore. All good hockey players. But all know the price to be paid for that type of play. Just dont want to see anyone get permanently hurt. The only thing to learn from those events is when the goonery needs to back off some. Hockey is and always should be a tough guys game.
  14. Commy #22
    14. Posted by Commy #22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    Wow deep_kick_69...read what you just wrote...Steve Moore desreved it for elbowing Nasland? As i recall the was no penity called on the play? Since the goon did that his career went down the tubs....its not bad enough that he had to ruin his career but her had to ruin some one else becasue he was frusraded?? thats bull s**t!! ok the next time your frustrated at work go in your bosses office and punch him and break his neck...see how long your a free man...what Bertuzzi should have done was face him and drop the gloves...not grab his jersey and punch him in the back of the neck...my a$$ he didnt try and hurt him...when you do something like that there is intent to injure...and the penitly should have been worse...Burtuzzi has failed with every team he has played for since the even...was nothing in Florida...a big baby in Detroit/Anaheim and will do what he does best...play 10 games and be out the rest of the time with a tampon shoved up his @$$!!
  15. Bubbabanjo
    15. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Dude....my name is Bubbabanjo. Of course I am stooooopid! Pickin and a grinnen.
  16. Josh B
    16. Posted by Josh B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Hope your ready when you make your way to Minnesota because we all hate you...wait i think eveyone hates you!
  17. Vaynard
    17. Posted by Vaynard Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:47 pm EDT

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    the steve moore incident is a joke. let's take a player who is, at best, a third line checker used sparingly and compare him to a multi-million dollar two-way physical player like bertuzzi. you wonder who got the short end on that one? a player who is a virtual nobody who is no longer in the league, which by most accounts, he probably would have been in that position anyways by now (don't free agency just suck?). then you look at bertuzzi, who, while protecting his captain, took down some sucker who just gets in the way, and then gets suspended for a year, loses out on millions, and is now damaged goods for any team that might or might not pick him up. Jarome was right, we need his skills in this town. Good luck, Todd. You'll need it with this group of bandwagon jumpers.
  18. GT
    18. Posted by GT Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    Sorry Flames fans, better you than me!!
  19. MaTt
    19. Posted by MaTt Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    wow calm down u flames fans. first of all ur right about everything but one thing. bertuzzi isn't slow. he dropped some weight because of his back problems and he really isn't that slow. he kept up with the red wings when he was on detroit, so for a big guy he's actually got some wheels.
  20. Bubbabanjo
    20. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    As they say on Hee-Haw....Saaaaaaaaaaaalllllllluuuuuuuuuutttttteeeeee!
  21. KP
    21. Posted by KP Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    wow, does someone have a twisted version of the term band-wagon (((Vaynard))) Again, there is isn't ANYONE who needs someone like Todd "the coward" Bertuzzi, let alone to actually pay him to be anywhere. Bertuzzi isn't anything more than a punch-line after the events w/ the unknown Steve Moore, which I guess is better than being a little known enforcer who can't play the game well enough to be anything but. A multi-million dollar two-way player? That's a nice way of saying you're not that good at playing the game, but we'll pay you because you're big and fugly and can pick on the smaller guys on the other teams!
  22. B
    22. Posted by B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    There are agitators, and enforcers in the league. Some may even call them "energy" players. I am a huge fan of the old rules in the NHL and being a defenseman myself love the guys who like to grind in the corners. That being said there is also a CLEAR line between what they do and what criminals do. Criminals use their stick as a weapon to try and hurt someone. Criminals jump on players backs and drive their head into the ice. He is a criminal and should be out of the league. At the very least he should only be allowed to play when Steve Moore can play again, which will be never. To all who think he should be allowed to play you would change your tune if he broke your neck. So why back him when he does it to someone else?
  23. Bubbabanjo
    23. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    NWH....you shure got a purdy mouth. Squeal like a pig. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
  24. tmr
    24. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    #12...I think that Bertuzzi will always be connected to the Moore incident for the rest of his life - it's his legacy. It's part of the price he will pay for that incident. There is no stopping that. He is a player of "infamy" and will remain that way for the rest of his days in most people's minds. I know, I get tired of it too. When he was here in Detroit, it was all anybody was thinking about the whole time. Sorry for bringing it up. In my defense, I guess I just sort of gave in to the tsunami of sentiment regarding Bertuzzi. Trust me, somebody would have brought it up. Someone will always bring it up. But it is getting a little old.
  25. Mike L
    25. Posted by Mike L Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:19 pm EDT

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    Let's see how the Vancouver fans react to playing Bertuzzi within their division this year, especially since his buddy Naslund is no longer there.

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