OK
Shift of focus:
What do you guys think of rumors that Bertuzzi will be traded?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=162744&hubname=
Quote:
VANCOUVER (CP) - He walked into the dressing room, sat down at his stall and waited.
Todd Bertuzzi knew what was coming. Notepads, microphones and television cameras quickly formed a semi-circle around the Vancouver Canucks forward.
It was a bad NHL season for the Canucks, who missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.
It was an even worse year for Bertuzzi. He battled to find his game on the ice, watched from the penalty box as his dreams of an Olympic medal vanished and continued to face legal problems in the wake of his attack on Steve Moore.
"I'm sure you guys can see it hasn't been that easy," Bertuzzi said Saturday before Vancouver's final regular-season game against the Colorado Avalanche. "I will just work harder in the summer and just try and get myself prepared for next year."
But will Bertuzzi be back in Vancouver? There's speculation the Canucks will try to deal the 31-year-old right-winger and his $5.2 million US salary over the summer.
"I really have no comment on it," Bertuzzi said. "That's for the people upstairs to decide.
"I have another year left (on his contract). Until someone tells me otherwise, not to show up, then I'm coming (back)."
A dark cloud hung over Bertuzzi all season. Rightfully or wrongly, he's been a lightning rod for criticism and damnation.
Heading into Saturday's game he had 24 goals, 70 points and was a minus-18. That's a long ways from the 46 goals and 97 points he collected in 2002-03, his last full season of hockey.
"I think it was an extremely difficult year for Todd," said Canucks coach Marc Crawford. "It is probably understated to say it's been the most difficult year for any player that has played in the NHL."
Crawford declined to comment on rumours the relationship between him and Bertuzzi had deteriorated.
Even Markus Naslund, the Canucks captain and a close friend of Bertuzzi, hedged when asked if he expects the six-foot-three, 245-pound power forward to return this fall.
"I don't even want to guess," Naslund said. "I leave that up to the people who are paid to do that job.
"I hope he's back, but I understand the organization has to take a look at everyone here."
There's a certain irony that what could be Bertuzzi's last game as a Canuck was against the Avalanche.
Bertuzzi's tenure in Vancouver began to unravel with his March 8, 2004, sucker punch on Moore, who was then playing for Colorado. Moore suffered three broken vertebrae in his neck and a concussion. He hasn't played hockey since.
Bertuzzi served an 18-month suspension from the NHL and pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to a year's probation and 80 hours of community service.
Big things were expected of Bertuzzi when he was reinstated this season. The changes in the NHL's rules were expected to make the big, bruising winger almost unstoppable.
Instead, Bertuzzi struggled to find his scoring touch. He didn't drive the net and some nights showed little interest in playing defence. The penalties he took were often cheap ones.
Four times this year Bertuzzi went through streaks of eight games or more without a goal. His last multiple-goal game was Jan. 14, when he scored three times against the New York Islanders.
Outside the rink, Bertuzzi's image remained tarnished.
He was named to Canada's Olympic hockey team only to have some critics say he shouldn't have been picked because of the Moore affair.
In the days leading up to the Games, Bertuzzi was slapped with another civil suit by Moore, claiming millions of dollars in damages. This followed a similar suit filed in Denver that a judge dismissed, saying the case had no standing in Colorado.
Teammates say Bertuzzi didn't talk about his legal problems in the dressing room.
"He kept it more to himself," said centre Brendan Morrison. "I don't know if that made it tougher on him or if it was easier for him."
Bertuzzi was excited about playing at the Olympics. That moment of sweetness also soured when the Sudbury, Ont., native was in the penalty box when Russia scored on a power-play in the game that eliminated Canada from medal contention.
Bertuzzi does have a dry wit and can be painfully honest with his answers.
He also can be grumpy and sullen. A private man, he's lived in a fishbowl atmosphere in Vancouver.
If Bertuzzi wants a change of scenery, a fresh start in a new city, he wasn't saying it publicly.
"I have no comment on that," he said. "This is my home. We'll just see what happens."
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I find it understandable that Bertuzzi is finding it difficult to play in a fishbowl. His every move/action is scrutinized. I like Bertuzzi, he's my favorite player. I say give him till the end of his contract at LEAST. There's only one year left, let him adjust fully to returning after not playing competitively AT ALL for over a year.
He wasn't the only player who underperformed at the Olympics; Canada's entire team underperformed. Iginla, Heatley, Thorton, all bust.
I thought he had a great year considering all the pressure he was under and all the distractions he faced.
You have to look at his stats from the past few seasons and see that a 70pt season isn't a failure. It's called statistical regression towards the mean. He finished third on the team in points. Yeah, he was -17... Naslund was -19, nobody is calling for his head. Yet.
All in all, I think Bertuzzi is a valuble asset to the Canucks, and I hope he's around for many years to come. I feel trading him would come back to bite us in the ass in a major way. We need a power forward.