Why does Bertuzzi get away with murder?

by TheBrandyBarrelRescueTeam on Mar 29, 2011 3:11 PM MDT

It seems as if there is some kind of shadow NHL government behind the scenes doesn’t it? Campbelluminati, perhaps? Certain players get punished for dirty hits; others are not. Many have argued that Todd Bertuzzi has been "quiet" in his style of play since the Steve Moore incident, and we are made to believe that he is a changed man since that dark night in Vancouver seven years ago. However, last night Mr. Douchebag (a word play on Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe) aka Todd Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings partially left his skates to throw a solid elbow into the head of Ryan Johnson of the Chicago Blackhawks. Mr. Douchebag was ejected from the game, because the referees clearly knew that what they witnessed was bad sportsmanship and wrong… Yet today, like a Christmas miracle, Mr. Douchebag was not suspended… Not even ONE game! So I began to ask myself and Mr. Colin Campbell…How?! Why?! REALLY?!

So, I did some research and to my surprise Big Douche aka Big Bert has people in high places… Wait for it…Wait for it…Wait for it… Mr. Douchebag has a great uncle lawyer by the name of Larry Bertuzzi of Toronto who does arbitration work for the…wait for it….wait for it… wait for it… NHL! When I found this out I wasn’t surprised at all, but to assume that just because Todd Bertuzzi has a great uncle lawyer handling arbitration for the NHL is justification enough to believe that that is the reason why he never gets punished is preposterous.

However, the ridiculous way the NHL handles everything including its owners, staff, and personal, is evidence enough:

Think about it… Wayne Gretzky offered Bertuzzi a spot on the 2006 Canadian national team's camp the day his suspension for nearly killing Steve Moore was up… That is like all the neighborhood kids waiting for the really cool kid who has all the toys to get off being grounded so that they can go play again. No one in the NHL cared about Steve Moore, not even the Avalanche. I wouldn’t have been surprised that had the Steve Moore incident never happened the Avs would have pushed hard to add Bertuzzi to the roster due to his close friendship with Joe Sakic. They (NHL) almost acted as if Moore threw a wrench in their plan (How dare you Steve Moore, disrupt the Grand Plan of Todd Bertuzzi becoming the next star power forward in the NHL and leading Canada to gold in the Olympics by allowing your neck to be broken by him from a cowardly cheap shot from behind, then in Carl Racki style, allow your head to be driven into the ice face first!). The fact that Canada wanted a man like him to represent their country shows the disgraceful amount of compromise the hockey community allows in order to win (BTW Sweden won the gold in 2006 haha!).

I don’t want to rant too much, but I had to get this off my chest. I feel like every time things like this happen it is another blow to Steve Moore and to hockey. Beyond hockey, I care about Steve Moore, and I feel sorry for him.

This game will be better when guys like Bertuzzi, and Cooke are long gone… Surprise! Both of those douchebags were on that Vancouver Canucks team. P.S. I am happy that Steve Moore kicked Matt Cooke's ass!

I opened this up for discussion so that you may all vent if needed.

And I challenge all of you low class, cowardly Detroit Red Wings fans that have been making fun of Steve Moore and all of the other victims of the Big Douche on the ESPN and TSN NHL blogs to state your case on why you think Mr. Douchebag is such a classy player! I dare you!

DISCUSS!

MileHighHockey.com is a fan community, allowing members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Colorado Avalanche and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editors of MileHighHockey.com.

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It was a flying elbow to the face and he skated in from New Jersey to deliver it. He could have easily backed off and didn’t.

He’s a thug and should never have been allowed back into the NHL after what he did. He had one good season because Marcus Naslund carried his ass. Is he talented? who fucking cares. He spit in the face of hockey and took the career (promising or not) of a fellow player.

Everyone wants to forget and let bygones be bygones. Fuck that. You don’t do that. He did more to damage the NHL than Matt Cooke ever will, and never paid the price for it.

Fuck him.

An inevitable consequence of complex chemistry.

by Paul X on Mar 29, 2011 3:43 PM MDT reply actions

Exactly. He was ten feet away when he put the elbow up. “Unintentional” is just BS.

by Andy_ on Mar 30, 2011 10:22 AM MDT up reply actions

And I challenge all of you low class, cowardly Detroit Red Wings fans that have been making fun of Steve Moore and all of the other victims of the Big Douche on the ESPN and TSN NHL blogs to state your case on why you think Mr. Douchebag is such a classy player! I dare you!

Well, I don’t comment at ESPN or TSN, and I don’t make fun of Steve Moore… nor am I particularly interested in discussing something so subjective as class, but I’ll give this a go.

Many have argued that Todd Bertuzzi has been “quiet” in his style of play since the Steve Moore incident, and we are made to believe that he is a changed man since that dark night in Vancouver seven years ago. However, last night Mr. Douchebag (a word play on Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe) aka Todd Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings partially left his skates to throw a solid elbow into the head of Ryan Johnson of the Chicago Blackhawks. Mr. Douchebag was ejected from the game, because the referees clearly knew that what they witnessed was bad sportsmanship and wrong

Did you just suggest that Todd Bertuzzi has been patiently waiting seven years for his chance to show what an unchanged douchebag he is and he decided to use that chance on elbowing Ryan effing Johnson?

I thought the play was stupid, but perhaps I’m not fully aware of just how stupid Todd Bertuzzi really is. I mean, all those years of waiting and waiting to show the world how his bloodlust can’t be sated and he chooses Ryan Johnson, who has never done anything to anybody on whom to take out his inhumane rage? What a stupid, stupid man.

For those of you who forget, Todd Bertuzzi did get a game. That penalty happened on his second shift. He was gone for the remainder of that game.

Listen, I’m glad Bertuzzi got the gate for that penalty. I would have wanted that called on anybody. it was a reckless and stupid play by a man you claim should never have been allowed back in the league. If this helps you work out your seven years of impotent seething, then so be it. The rest of the hockey world hasn’t forgotten Bertuzzi’s actions, we’ve just moved forward from there.

by J.J. from Kansas on Mar 29, 2011 4:05 PM MDT reply actions

For those of you who forget, Todd Bertuzzi did get a game. That penalty happened on his second shift. He was gone for the remainder of that game.

I disagree that a game misconduct penalty and a suspension are in any way similar in terms of severity of punishment. If you truly think that the game misconduct is all he should have gotten then we disagree. It’s ok, I disagree with the NHL, who is in your corner.

Sadly, what’s done is done and he won’t be receiving any supplementary discipline from the league. It was a dangerous and stupid play and falls under the category of “dangerous hits to the head” that the GMs wanted to “get out of the game” a few weeks ago. Everyone forgets when the offender is a valuable player for his team.

As for my “impotent seething” nope, this doesn’t help.

An inevitable consequence of complex chemistry.

by Paul X on Mar 29, 2011 4:22 PM MDT up reply actions

J.J. from Kansas

If you read my statement close enough, you will notice that if you didn’t meet any of those criteria that I wasn’t referring to you personally. I know that a small minority of Red Wings fans are trolls on those blog boards. I am glad that you are not one of them, because then you wouldn’t or couldn’t be called a homo sapien or human being.

“Did you just suggest that Todd Bertuzzi has been patiently waiting seven years for his chance to show what an unchanged douchebag he is and he decided to use that chance on elbowing Ryan effing Johnson?”

No, I was not suggesting that AT ALL, you took that completely out of context looking at the situation through red and white tinted glasses. I was making the point that Bertuzzi will always be Bertuzzi. He clearly has anger issues and though he has been good at hiding them the last seven years, you know that it was only a matter of time before his true self showed up in a game. And yes, Bertuzzi has snuck in some cheap hits here and there in the past 7 years so no he isn’t a saint. He didn’t slow down to drill Ryan Johnson with his elbow, he intentionally hit him with his elbow to the head.

“For those of you who forget, Todd Bertuzzi did get a game. That penalty happened on his second shift. He was gone for the remainder of that game”

Thats NOT a suspension. He needs to be punished the same as Matt Cooke. A suspension is that game plus 2 more or 5 more or a playoff series.

“If this helps you work out your seven years of impotent seething, then so be it. The rest of the hockey world hasn’t forgotten Bertuzzi’s actions, we’ve just moved forward from there. "

Let the classy Red Wing fan comments begin… wow… Impotent seething? You should have seen the pain Steve Moore went through during his rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Denver. Im sorry, as a fan of the Colorado Avalanche to see your organization and the league turn their back on a man who just lost his livelihood was hard to digest.

You say that the rest of the hockey world hasn’t forgotten Bertuzzi’s actions, and that we’ve (Persumably Red Wings, Canucks fans) have moved on. I agree whole heartedly! I think that the hockey world moved on too quickly! I would have love to STILL see a well publicized trial over this, and perhaps I may get my wish. I think that the NHL swept this situation under the carpet like a big mistake rather than what it really was… a malicious attack!

Remember #36 Steve Moore!!

by TheBrandyBarrelRescueTeam on Mar 29, 2011 4:45 PM MDT up reply actions

He clearly has anger issues

I’m probably no more qualified to play amateur psychologist than anybody (but hey, I minored in it six years ago!), but I don’t believe that the check on Ryan Johnson was in any way related to anger issues. Neither Johnson nor the Blackhawks had done anything to provoke Bertuzzi or any of the Red Wings, really. The way I read the situation was that the Hawks had recently scored on the Wings and in the post-goal-against struggle to regain some momentum, Bertuzzi made a stupid play trying to lay one of those game-changing checks. If you look at the play right before it, you’ll see a pretty similar physical response from Mike Modano laying a hard check behind the net. The difference is that Modano didn’t stupidly come from a distance, and didn’t stupidly lift his arm.

Thats NOT a suspension. He needs to be punished the same as Matt Cooke.

What is punishing Bertuzzi the same as Cooke going to accomplish in context? From the comments posted by the more non-biased fans around the league (if you could consider anybody non-biased) is that the plays and players have nearly no similarities. Patrik Hornqvist got a $2,500 fine for a hit that is probably the best comparable to what Bertuzzi did. Martin Erat got no penalty, no suspension, and no fine for an elbow that was comparable to the hits from Heatley and Marchand that got them each 2 games. I’m sorry if I missed this after those hits, but were you calling for 14-17 game suspensions for all four of those players as well?

And yes, Bertuzzi has snuck in some cheap hits here and there in the past 7 years

God, I hate doing this, but I’m going to need to see some evidence here. I’ve got a good lot of his Red Wings games in mind where Bertuzzi has committed a stupid hooking or holding play and even fewer instances of when he’s been called for something he hasn’t deserved because of his reputation, but trying as hard as I am to take off my red-colored glasses, I can’t remember Bertuzzi as a player who continues to throw cheap hits here and there. Everywhere he’s gone since his incident, he’s been judged to be a player who doesn’t hit often enough because he’s scared to. I know he dropped the gloves with Brooks Orpik during the preseason this year after Orpik laid a cheap knee-on-knee hit with Franzen, but what part of that is anger management when he hasn’t done anything close to resembling his brutal assault on Moore?

Let the classy Red Wing fan comments begin… wow… Impotent seething?

I apologize for that – totally uncalled for.

I would have love to STILL see a well publicized trial over this, and perhaps I may get my wish.

Steve Moore deserves every penny that the civil suit takes out of Bertuzzi’s pocket. Steve Moore also deserves every penny that the civil suit takes out of Marc Crawford’s pocket. I’m not horribly interested in how well-publicized the trial is, but I think that the closest thing to justice will be served once this case goes to court.

by J.J. from Kansas on Mar 29, 2011 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions

My take

from a different thread:

The NHL is being consistent, because they didn’t suspend Chara for a hit that was (IMO) unintentionally to the head. If they feel Bertuzzi’s was unintentionally to the head (and it may have been). I don’t want to defend Bertuzzi too much, but his hit to the head did look accidental.

But it was careless, and carelessness is one of the biggest problems with the league and headshots. I don’t think players are out there trying to seriously injure people, I think guys are out there trying to make big hits that spurn their team and make highlights. Those are the dangerous reckless kinds. Would Bertuzzi have kept his arm down had he known a suspension was coming. He very easily could have given Johnson a concussion, regardless of intent.

Accidental shots to the head need to be punished too. there’s already precedent for it, as accidental high sticks are penalties.

Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Mar 29, 2011 6:10 PM MDT up reply actions

I don’t think players are out there trying to seriously injure people

Exceptions: Bertuzzi’s assault on Moore. Most hits by Matt “fuckhole” Cooke.

We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.

by Bob in Boulder on Mar 29, 2011 6:21 PM MDT up reply actions

I would be ok with that rule change

but it’s going to take a rule change.

by J.J. from Kansas on Mar 29, 2011 6:22 PM MDT up reply actions

actually, i would have suspended douchenozzle

one reason: he has a history of acting with intent to injure. anytime you take a swing at a guy skating away from you and you end up breaking vertebrae and essentially ending a guy’s career you do not get nor deserve the benefit of the doubt. even if it was accidental.

he can say it was an accident (both the moore incident and this) all he wants. his actions speak a lot louder than his words.

by jcarti01 on Mar 29, 2011 6:51 PM MDT up reply actions

The Moore hit was no accident.

Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Mar 29, 2011 7:38 PM MDT up reply actions

never said it was

by jcarti01 on Mar 29, 2011 8:38 PM MDT up reply actions

the moore hit was intentional. i was referring to douchenozzle’s latest encounter.

(next time, lets hit enter AFTER we finish the post)

by jcarti01 on Mar 29, 2011 8:39 PM MDT up reply actions

he can say it was an accident (both the moore incident and this) all he wants. his actions speak a lot louder than his words.

(next time, lets use proper grammar so we don’t misconstrue our intended meaning) /grammer nazi

by HansoBonanzo on Mar 30, 2011 9:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Actually

Remember #36 Steve Moore!!

by TheBrandyBarrelRescueTeam on Mar 29, 2011 4:22 PM MDT reply actions

Fuck bertuzzi, the NHL and Detroit.

Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!

by niwotsblessing on Mar 29, 2011 7:17 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

I like the NHL...

but REC’D!!!!!

Living in the D, but It's All About The A.

by Avalanche318 on Mar 29, 2011 8:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Because he sucks a hell of a cock

The 2011 Colorado Rockies - Starring Johnny Herrera as THE ANSWER
Paul McCartney Can't Play Piano
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's Colorado Rapids site
Crystal Palace FC - Eternally a point from relegation (._. )

by UZ on Mar 29, 2011 10:49 PM MDT reply actions