Report: Red Wings acquire Bertuzzi from Panthers

Todd Bertuzzi hasn't played since November, but one NHL team is taking a chance on the Panthers' veteran forward.

According to The Sports Network of Canada, the Panthers have traded Bertuzzi to the Red Wings in exchange for a conditional draft pick and a prospect to be named.

Bertuzzi has been skating and says he's healthy after undergoing back surgery he had on Nov. 2. He hasn't played since Oct. 18 at Washington, when he started experiencing back spasms. He had treatment and injections for the injury but ultimately opted for surgery.

Bertuzzi, who was acquired by the Panthers in an offseason trade with the Vancouver Canucks, also missed some preseason time with a rib injury. Bertuzzi had missed just 13 games combined in the three prior seasons -- all because of suspensions.

The Panthers acquired Bertuzzi in exchange for goaltender Roberto Luongo as part of a five-player trade with the Canucks the day before the NHL draft in June.

Bertuzzi was suspended for the end of the 2003-04 season and playoffs after his on-ice attack left Colorado's Steve Moore with fractured vertebrae in his neck and a concussion that has so far prevented him from returning to the NHL.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2781644

Give them a week or two and Wings fans will love him, even the ones that didn't want him here.

Depends on whether or not he is ready to play.

I still think he got a raw deal out of the Moore thing. If he can play, I welcome him with open arms.

Yeah, to me no worse than what Claude did to Draper back in the day.

Give them a week or two and Wings fans will love him, even the ones that didn't want him here.
I agree.

I bet the pick is conditional based on him being able to play. I wonder who the prospect is. better not be Filpulla, Hudler, or one of our great D. Send them Grirorenko (he's never played), Langfeld, or whoever.

His hit wasn't that bad really. He just sucked punched Moore. It was not as bad as Claude's (i agree), or the one with McSorley (clocked that one guy in the head with his stick). Bertuzzi took a cheap shot, but I don't think there was an intent to injure like the other hits.

The prospect is Mattias. No great loss considering how long Detroit takes to groom it's prospects.

The Wings gave up Shawn Matthias and two conditional picks for Bertuzzi.

cool. Hopefully he can teach Lang how to actually use his size out there. Lang, Bertuzzi and Cleary could be a bitch to play against if they stay physical.

More details on the conditional pick:


Florida will get either a first-, a second- or a third-round pick in 2007 based on Bertuzzi’s performance and the success of the team. Florida will also get a second-round pick in 2008 if Bertuzzi, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, re-signs with Detroit.

The pick will be a first rounder if either of these two scenarios happen:

- Wings reach the Conference Finals, Bertuzzi plays 2/3 of playoff games and is among Wings' top five scorers. Or

- Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals and Bertuzzi plays 2/3 of playoff games.

kind of distanced from the nhl these day, but back surgery and hockey players typically doesnt mix.

Im a lil less of a Wings fan now. The Moore incident is still inexcusable to me.

The guy made a mistake and paid the price. Probert was probably the worst hockey player criminal off the ice, but Wings fans loved him.

BTW, Holland spoke about the conditional pick(s) during the game last night.

If Bertuzzi plays in 2/3 of their playoff games in certain rounds, the pick goes up:

2nd round of playoffs = 3rd round pick
conference finals = 2nd round pick
stanley cup finals = 1st round pick

I think he also said if they resign him then Florida gets their 2008 second rounder.

So, if he is not healthy and can't play we only lose Matthius.

Bertuzzi was in GR yesterday practicing with the Griffins at Griff's Ice House.

The practice was open to the public, so a couple of my co-workers went over around 10:30 am to check him out.

They said he was skating really well, and that he's huge*.


*no, they were not in the showers or the lockeroom

Bertuzzi was in GR yesterday practicing with the Griffins at Griff's Ice House.

The practice was open to the public, so a couple of my co-workers went over around 10:30 am to check him out.

They said he was skating really well, and that he's huge*.


*no, they were not in the showers or the lockeroom

dammit I wanted pictures

Any word on how loud his farts are yet??

Bertuzzi close to returning

Todd Bertuzzi is inching closer to his much-anticipated debut with the Detroit Red Wings.

After he skates Thursday morning, the team will decide whether Bertuzzi will play that night against Columbus or wait until Saturday’s game vs. St. Louis.

“If he feels good Thursday morning, he’ll go Thursday night, if he feels he needs a couple of practices with the team, we’ll wait until Saturday,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “But, he’s either playing Thursday or Saturday.”

The Wings are anxious to have Bertuzzi play in eight or nine games before the playoffs. He needs to get his game conditioning back, not having played since Oct. 18 (he had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back on Nov. 2). And he needs to get accustomed to his new teammates and the club’s up-tempo, puck-possession style of play. He practiced with the team’s AHL affiliate, Grand Rapids, during the Wings’ road trip.

“He’s pushing himself, so hopefully he’s ready,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We’d like to get him as many games, because if he’s like most guys, you come back, you’re good for a couple of days and then (you struggle). It takes you a while to get going.”

There is still no word on when Henrik Zetterberg will begin skating. Zetterberg, who hasn’t been on the ice since Feb. 26 due to an inflamed disc in his back, has started some light off-ice conditioning.

“Trainers feel he gets better a little bit each day, but I’m not sure when he’s going to skate,” Holland said.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1172792402235100.xml&coll=1

The Wings could definitly use a big body presence to boost this offense right now. All the momentum they had during Zetterbergs hot streak is gone
and Hasek has been pedestrian lately.

Maybe this will charge them back up

I think they will wait on Zetts rather than try to bring him back to early like they did with Dats last year.

It's killing me in fantasy hockey though. Zetterberg leads the NHL in game winners (10) and I haven't had a game winner in two weeks.....