“Nearly killing someone ONCE doesn’t make a player a bad person, necessarily.”

That doesn’t mean Claude Lemieux would be accepted in Hockeytown.  I seen him on Pro’s vs Joe’s a couple weeks ago.  He still has no remorse for his hit on Draper.  In fact, in that episode, he said to a “Joe”, “I’ll make you cry like Draper.”  I believe Hockeytown fans won’t ever forget.  Or forgive.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/07 at 08:43 AM ET

Bert apologized, faced the law, and probably will end up paying some kind of damages to Moore.  People need to get over it.  I think he’d be a great addition to the Wings.

Posted by snafu on 02/27/07 at 08:53 AM ET

I just have this gut feeling that Guerin is Hollands target and maybe Calder becomes a Blue today.
Bertuzzi would be a great addition no doubt, but having not played in months and the style that the Red Wings play ( which I consider a very fast tempo ) would be hard for him to jump in and be effective immediately, IMO.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 02/27/07 at 08:57 AM ET

If it’s true that Jason Williams’ play was affected by the Big Hit, then why could it also not be true that Bertuzzi’s play would be affected by what he did to Moore.  IF he has a conscience (and I assume he does), it could very well affect how he plays.  And not for the better.

He is physically not well; andif he is a human being with a conscience, he has to be mentally affected by his past behavior - and chances are strong that it would affect his attitude on the ice.

I know I have no choice in the decision-making but I do not want him in a Red Wings’ jersey.

Posted by R5 on 02/27/07 at 09:02 AM ET

How is Bert any worse than Heatley?  Bert didn’t intend to end Moore’s career.  And Heatley didn’t intend to end Snyder’s life.  I don’t see anybody still griping about Heatley.  If you ask me, life ending is worse than life altering.  Not excusing Bert for what he did, but get over it and move on the best you can.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/07 at 09:17 AM ET

Well put cementslinger, couldnt agree more.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 02/27/07 at 09:28 AM ET

I hold nothing against Bert or Heatly for what happened… I’ll bet Heatly’s a more careful driver though, and Bertuzzi has probably changed as well

Posted by Todzilla on 02/27/07 at 10:19 AM ET

I have to disagree with what is being said about Bertuzzi.  Now I have a different perspective since I live in Colorado and follow the Diques rather closely.  Bertuzzi’s hit was disgusting.  Comparing that to Dan Heatley does not fly in my book. Bert went after someone with the intent to injure.  He clearly stated it before the game.  He did not directly apologize to Steve Moore EVER!  The only apology he ever did was in the media.  I don’t want to see him in Winged Wheel uniform.  I used to have the utmost respect for Bertuzzi and I liked him as a player, that whole incident changed my opinion on him and I would be disgusted to see him in a Wings sweater.  I put him and Claude Lemieux in the same boat and as far as I am concerned, they can both sink in it together.

Posted by hockeychic on 02/27/07 at 10:48 AM ET

Paul, the most exciting day of the year and you will be traveling?

Posted by millsz from Brownstown, MI on 02/27/07 at 11:29 AM ET

With Blake going to SJS, I want Blake.

Posted by BDH on 02/27/07 at 12:19 PM ET

The wings got Bertuzzi, details are still sketchy, but it is a conditional pick and a prospect.

Posted by Aaron from Phoenix on 02/27/07 at 02:29 PM ET

I think Hockeychic is taking this wayyy too seriously.  I mean, it’s never been definitively proven in a court of law that Bertuzzi did anything wrong, right?

Besides, the guy he half-maimed was an Av.  I see positives there.

(Yes, I’m kidding.  Mostly.  I certainly wouldn’t let Bertuzzi open a door for me if I had a Colorado jersey on, though.)

Posted by hockeyinhd on 02/27/07 at 02:35 PM ET

Bertuzzi tried several times to phone Moore to speak to him personally.  I suppose by this time the lawyers were involved, so he never accepted Bert’s calls, and eventually Bert probably was advised to not make any further attempts to reach him.  This was in the papers right after the attack.  Bertuzzi called Moore immediately afterwards, and did attempt to call him during his hospitalization.

People will make up their own minds, but at least let’s get the facts out there.  You can’t say Beruzzi is a complete monster who wouldn’t even make ANY attempt to speak to Moore directly.  The man screwed up, big time, but he does have a conscience.

Posted by snafu on 02/27/07 at 03:29 PM ET

Well, I just posted my gut reaction/feelings earlier so whatever, it was just my opinion.  Be interesting to how it all goes. I wish the Wings could have gotten a healthier player but I think the price was too high.

Posted by hockeychic on 02/27/07 at 04:01 PM ET