So he hopes he can wrap up a deal with Sillwoozie by next week? Oh Brother….

He almost seemed apologetic for next season.

Posted by The Hurricane on 08/17/09 at 11:36 AM ET

Let me be the first to welcome him back.  I’m sure it’s less than what Williams is making and he’ll add some size to this team and give Holmstrom a breather on the powerplay.  I’m sure he’ll also be looked at to keep the flies off.  I’m sure there’s plenty of Wings fans who just threw up in their mouths, but when you look at it, and look at the money involved (he’s still geting paid by Anaheim), it’ll be a mutually beneficial relationship

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 11:37 AM ET

This puts a nail into the coffin for Lilja early in the season it it indeed is true.

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 11:43 AM ET

Well, if it ends up, lets just hope he can restrain himself and not land in the box every other shift. Otherwise, a 1 year deal with little value could be beneficial. It’s been a while since we had a Wing with hammer-fists. I know it’s not Uncle Mike’s style, but I could use a few good hockey fights.

Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 08/17/09 at 11:48 AM ET

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 12:37 PM ET

I’m with you on that.  Besides, I still have my Red Wings Bertuzzi T-shirt from 2007.  Time to bring that bitch back out.

I don’t really know where he’d fit in this lineup given that we have 12 guys who all expect to be regulars and we already have like 8 forwards who deserve PP time. 

Regardless, I like the guy.  I know everybody here hates the dude, but part of me hopes he signs here.

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 08/17/09 at 11:49 AM ET

Hey, class is over rated, right… right?

Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 08/17/09 at 12:02 PM ET

Hey, class is over rated, right… right?

It’s all relative.

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 12:10 PM ET

What to do , what to do ,what to do? Hhmmm!

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 08/17/09 at 12:11 PM ET

I said it over a month ago that I’d be happy to see big Bert back.  So long as its for a tiny, tiny sum.  He’ll fit in well on a 3rd or possibly 2nd line and 2nd powerplay unit.  He put up pretty good numbers for his ice time last year: 44 points in 66 games.  He only played 24 games for us, and never had a chance to really warm up to our system since 16 of those were in the playoffs.

I like the idea better than bringing Williams back, that’s for sure.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/17/09 at 12:13 PM ET

This move would essentially put Eaves in GR to start the season unless Malts goes to the press box.  Leino isn’t going, Helm better not.  So who gets demoted?

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/17/09 at 12:22 PM ET

Guess I’ll sit back and wait for this shoe to drop before I decide what I think.
Salary is obviously going to be a part of my reaction… and his health will be another part.
I won’t stick up for the thug, but he wasn’t even close to healthy his first stint. But will his health make up for his thick skull taking stooooopid penalties and floating ways? Yeah he’s a big lug, but if he’s not going to play in the tough areas.. he’s going to be a 5th wheel and be battling Willy for the roster spot in Uncle Mike’s mutt shack.
He’s got the hands & size to play in front of the net and be effective, but ability and willingness can be miles apart.
I’d have to think there’s a lengthy sit down with either of the guys we’ve resigned or are rumored to be resigning….

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 08/17/09 at 12:23 PM ET

Animal Drew

Kenny wants 13 forwards, so maybe they all stay, and Larry and Malts take turns on the box.

Anyway, is Lilja over?

Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 08/17/09 at 12:28 PM ET

it’ll be a mutually beneficial relationship

How does Detroit benefit from extra, unneccesary powerplays?

This move would essentially put Eaves in GR to start the season unless Malts goes to the press box.

Yeah, as Guilherme mentioned, Kenny has said he wants 13 forwards and 7 d, so this means Abdelkader’s definitely in GR for the year.

I guess training camp will determine who plays 4th line and who watches from the press box most of the year.

I can’t imagine it would be Leino or Helm who are sitting…

Posted by Garth on 08/17/09 at 12:36 PM ET

More transcripting here:

Listener “Al” weighs in via Lajoie: Just wondering what the deal is this year with the Red Wings. It looks like you’ve had a tougher off-season than in the past, well, that’s, well, he obviously follows the team, but, uh, the challenges that Ken Holland faces, and always we enjoy having a listen to you….

Devellano: Well, that’s nice, I appreciate that, Al…Well, you know we have, it’s been a tough year, we lost 82 goals with three forwards, Samuelsson, Hudler, and Hossa. And, uh, I guess we have signed Jason Williams, who’s played with us before, Jason’s capable of scoring 20 goals, um, you know, we’ve signed him, I believe we’re getting close to Todd Bertuzzi, uh, I’m hopeful that sometime next week, that he may be signed to a one-year contract…

Lajoie: That’s an interesting gamble…

Devellano: An interesting gamble. Todd played with us before, we had acquired him from Florida, and he’s been a free agent for a few years, has come back on a one-year contract, so we’re trying to sign some guys with NHL experience, and uh, you know, we’ll just have to see, it’s gonna be a lot tougher year for the Red Wings, and it’s gonna be a different type of year, uh, we won’t be running away with the league, I can tell you that, but, hopefully, we expect to still, with our good players, like Lidstrom, and Rafalski, and Datsyuk, and Zetterberg, uh, we feel we should still be reasonably competitive.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/17/09 at 12:41 PM ET

Hey, while they’re at it, maybe they can talk Claude LeMieux out of retirement.

Posted by dougie on 08/17/09 at 12:41 PM ET

If the contract/salary is right (low) then this would be a solid addition.

Posted by Coastal Coyote on 08/17/09 at 12:43 PM ET

@Nightmare on Helm Street

Man, love your blog, hate your lines. Leino - Helm - Bertuzzi? I feel sory for my little man, he’d be the only one skating in there.

(and I also have problems with your background; I work, do you know? It sucks to go “no style” on Firefox for you blog…)

I’m I angry and bitter? Hell, yeah, I speak fecking Portuguese!

Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 08/17/09 at 12:44 PM ET

Kenny wants 13 forwards, so maybe they all stay, and Larry and Malts take turns on the box.
Anyway, is Lilja over?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 08/17/09 at 01:28 PM ET

I’m MORE than fine with Malts in the box, I just don’t see it happening now, when it could (should?) have happened last year.

As for Lilja, dude is still having headaches after 5+ months, if Bert signs, there’s no way Lilja stays off of LTIR without moving somebody.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Franzen-Filppula-Cleary
Leino-Helm-Williams
Eaves-Draper-Bertuzzi
Maltby

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Lebda
Meech

Osgood
Howards

What d’ya guys think?

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/17/09 at 12:45 PM ET

I think if Bertuzzi had anything left ...
he would already be wearing a Toronto or Philly sweater.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/17/09 at 12:46 PM ET

$&@#&#@$ Bertuzzi, this makes me ill

in better news..its my birthday, my b-b-b-birthday, on a monday :(

Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 08/17/09 at 12:56 PM ET

Howzabout:
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Franzen-Filppula-Leino
Cleary-Helm-Eaves
Williams-Draper-Bertuzzi
Maltby

Probably not feasible, since of the three I would guess that Bertuzzi would be the least likely to accept a fourth line role.

Otherwise, how about
Cleary-Helm-Bert
Williams-Draper-Eaves?

I don’t like the idea of Leino-Helm-Bert because Helm is such an energy guy while Leino’s slow and Bert can be lazy.  Who knows, maybe pairing Helm with Bert will make Bert work harder, but it just seems like that line would be a drag on Helm.

Posted by Garth on 08/17/09 at 12:58 PM ET

This makes me puke in my mouth.

That being said, if anyone is going to prove us wrong for questioning this, it’s Ken Holland. Bertuzzi will probably proceed to play 70+ games, finish with 20+ goals, rack up 100 PIM, and provide a physical presence for his teammates.

I hate this move, I’m just saying, how many times is Kenny going to prove us wrong before we just all STFU and quit worrying? Hell, even if Bert bombs, they can cut him loose half way through the season and bring the kids in like we wanted.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/17/09 at 01:03 PM ET

Bertuzzi is a complimentary player now, he needs a veteran team where his role will be somehat defined.  In Detroit I think he’ll flourish because he’ll get a chance to play with world class talent in a supporting and welcoming lockerrom where his privacy will be respected and the media won’t delve into his private life.  Plus he’s close to home.  I think this is the perfect situation for him and his career.  The Wings get a guy who can play in front of the net and keep the flies off when needed.  He did have 44 pts in 60 something games, he can still score.  This is a great deal for both parties.

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 01:03 PM ET

we feel we should still be reasonably competitive.

Why does Jimmy D sound like such a little bitch?

Kenny has said before that Bert was helpful in getting past Calgary and San Jose in 2007, and getting to the WCF proved that signing to be a good one. I disagree with Kenny here because I don’t remember Bert being or doing anything particularly useful at the time. I do, however, remember yelling, “Drive the Net you Fuch!”

Let’s see what the cap number is. If you ignore the name, getting a potentially successful player on the Ducks’ dime is a freakin sweet idea.

It looks like B’s boycott of the season has begun

Posted by Osrt on 08/17/09 at 01:21 PM ET

I don’t like the idea of Leino-Helm-Bert because Helm is such an energy guy while Leino’s slow and Bert can be lazy.  Who knows, maybe pairing Helm with Bert will make Bert work harder, but it just seems like that line would be a drag on Helm.

It’s going to be uncertain until training camp obviously but this could mean that Holmstrom may not be ready either.

Eaves is slotted for the 4th line now, there’s no way around that.  4th line or 13th forward, he’s making 500k on this team for a reason right now.  I’ll assume him and Maltby will rotate.  I get the feeling Bertuzzi (if actually signed) will hover around the top 6 due to his ‘skill’set.  Helm is definitely an energy guy but the way this team has been built lately the 3rd line isn’t an energy line in the usual sense. 

Filppula - Datsyuk - Holmstrom
Bertuzzi - Z - Franzen
Cleary - Helm - Williams
Leino - Draper - Maltby/Eaves

That’s very possible.  It’ll get juggled 50,000 times though.

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 01:22 PM ET

Osrt,

If I remember at the time he was instrumental at keeping Phaneuf off the Zetterberg/Datsyuk types.  If he decides to get a bit angry he’s a truck that opposing defensemen have not account for.  He was useful when he was here, he was also hurt as well.  A healthy Bertuzzi can help this team, and by all accounts he was a solid locker room citizen and fit in real well.  At 1.5mm or below, this is a good signing.

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 01:28 PM ET

If I remember at the time he was instrumental at keeping Phaneuf off the Zetterberg/Datsyuk types.

mmmm….not sure about that. I remember that year was Dan Cleary’s coming out party and he was a wrecking ball. Remember when he destroyed Phaneuf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgeDlYSxLmQ

Sh*t was Epic

Posted by Osrt on 08/17/09 at 01:34 PM ET

I think this is the perfect situation for him and his career.  The Wings get a guy who can play in front of the net and keep the flies off when needed.  He did have 44 pts in 60 something games, he can still score.  This is a great deal for both parties.
Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 02:03 PM ET

Check out his +/- stats.  If Wing fans are going to bitch about Malts and the Drape, it surely should be considered.  If the Wings sign him, it will only be a big ‘Thank You’ for helping us defeat the Ducks with his stupid play and untimely penalties in the 2009 playoffs.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/17/09 at 01:36 PM ET

Helm is definitely an energy guy but the way this team has been built lately the 3rd line isn’t an energy line in the usual sense.

Fair enough.  If that’s the case though, I kinda like the idea of a fourth line of Eaves-Draper-Helm.  That would be a high energy line with some speed and defensive-mindedness.

At 1.5mm or below, this is a good signing.

He’s not a bad signing at that price, and I would assume that’s probably what he’d sign for, since that’s what Williams signed for.

Posted by Garth on 08/17/09 at 01:36 PM ET

It has an upside: the Dive never really took revenge for the Moore cheapshot

Maybe seeing him on a Winged Wheel will bring the hate back to the table.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 08/17/09 at 01:37 PM ET

mmmm….not sure about that. I remember that year was Dan Cleary’s coming out party and he was a wrecking ball. Remember when he destroyed Phaneuf:

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/33226

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 01:37 PM ET

A healthy Bertuzzi can help this team

So could a healthy 21 year old Bobby Orr. Unfortunately, such things do not exist.

If hopes and wishes were skanks and bitches, we’d all be knee deep in ‘tang.

Though, might as well keep our fingers crossed. If he’s cheap, he could be a beneficial 3d or 4th liner.

Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 08/17/09 at 01:39 PM ET

If the Wings sign him, it will only be a big ‘Thank You’ for helping us defeat the Ducks with his stupid play and untimely penalties in the 2009 playoffs.

Bertuzzi wasn’t on the Ducks for the 2009 playoffs, he was on Calgary…

Posted by Garth on 08/17/09 at 01:39 PM ET

Check out his +/- stats.  If Wing fans are going to bitch about Malts and the Drape, it surely should be considered. 

+/- is a funny stat.  I’m not going to defend Bertuzzi here or for anything but some guys like Pahlsson and Moen who people wanted signed really never have been a + player in their career.  Bertuzzi is Jason Williams with more baggage, a more rosy statistical history and a bit more physical (at this point in his career).

If the Wings sign him, it will only be a big ‘Thank You’ for helping us defeat the Ducks with his stupid play and untimely penalties in the 2009 playoffs.

Que?

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 01:40 PM ET

HTT,

Unlike Maltby or Draper, Bertuzzi will give you 20 goals+ and add an element of intimidation to any line he plays on.  He will do this and at similar salary to the two you had mentioned.  Look, I’m not Bert’s agent, he ain’t my first choice, but if it happens I’d be fine with it.  The Wings were probably going to get a guy like Peters or Downey with their 13th signing, for 500-700k+ more they have a guy who can score 20+ goals and add size to a team sorely lacking.  The Wings now have 13 guys who are signed and capable of scoring 15-20 goals, except of course for Maltby, not a bad way to spend 3mm+

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 01:47 PM ET

  If the Wings sign him, it will only be a big ‘Thank You’ for helping us defeat the Ducks with his stupid play and untimely penalties in the 2009 playoffs.

My apologies, apparently my memory has started taking Monday’s off (I always wanted 3 day weekends, be careful what you ask for).

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/17/09 at 01:52 PM ET

I seem to remember the big problem with Bertuzzi when he was a Wing was his health.  he was never 100%.  is he now?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 08/17/09 at 01:53 PM ET

Be careful what you ask for, HTT

Well, this offseason I asked for some grit and guys somehow related to Detroit. I got:

-Wings refugee Jason Williams
-Larry Eaves, nephew of a 2pt career on the Wings
-apparently, Bertuzzi… damn

Be careful, indeed…

Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 08/17/09 at 01:58 PM ET

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/33226

Posted by Heaton on 08/17/09 at 02:37 PM ET

I stand corrected.

If hopes and wishes were skanks and bitches, we’d all be knee deep in ‘tang.

Genius. Your own Mr. Norris or quoting? I want to attribute it correctly when I break that line out at the bar.

Posted by Osrt on 08/17/09 at 02:02 PM ET

Kenny has said before that Bert was helpful in getting past Calgary and San Jose in 2007, and getting to the WCF proved that signing to be a good one. I disagree with Kenny here because I don’t remember Bert being or doing anything particularly useful at the time. I do, however, remember yelling, “Drive the Net you Fuch!”

I still hate the move, and don’t take this as me defending Bertuzzi, but more so me defending Ken Holland, because he has earned more than a little rope.

Bertuzzi came off a long-term injury when he came to the Wings. By the time his stint was done, he’d played less than 30 games in the Wheel, and had little time for practice since over half those games were playoff games (where rest between games is more important than practice in many cases).

Bertuzzi may still have some nagging issues, and hasn’t be a durable rock the last two seasons, but he has played over 60 games in those seasons, which to me, is enough to prove that the severe injuries/surgeries he had to overcome, is long since past.

And given the organizational depth, if Bert blows out his groin in game one of the regular season, then we’ll all get what we want—Leino or Abdelkader as a full-time Wing.

So, it’s kind of a win-win.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/17/09 at 02:03 PM ET

Leino or Abdelkader as a full-time Wing.
So, it’s kind of a win-win.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 08/17/09 at 03:03 PM ET

Leino is a full-time Wing all season “Mark it, Dude.”  But I agree, if Bert gets hurt, we have all those kids in G.R. just salivating for a shot at the big time.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/17/09 at 02:09 PM ET

This puts a nail into the coffin for Lilja early in the season it it indeed is true.

um, what?  Lilja is a defenseman, Bertuzzi is not.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 08/17/09 at 02:34 PM ET

I seem to remember the big problem with Bertuzzi when he was a Wing was his health.  he was never 100%.  is he now?

Physically? Perhaps. Mentally? Not a chance. He’s not been his old Raging Bull self since the Moore incident. He is not the power forward he was. He rarely shows any snarl anymore, and his talent alone is not enough to get him by.

I want nothing to do with him.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 08/17/09 at 02:38 PM ET

Leino is a full-time Wing all season “Mark it, Dude.” But I agree, if Bert gets hurt, we have all those kids in G.R. just salivating for a shot at the big time.

Ah, thanks for the correction, I had forgotten his first contract was a one-year deal, thought he was still on a two-way deal.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/17/09 at 02:39 PM ET

This puts a nail into the coffin for Lilja early in the season it it indeed is true.

um, what?  Lilja is a defenseman, Bertuzzi is not.

What he meant was that Lilja’s cap space is going to be used to sign Bertuzzi.  The Wings will most likely put lilja on LTIR, therefore his salary will come off the books

Posted by bababooey on 08/17/09 at 02:41 PM ET

I still think Bert is just a slug.

I’m still woozi about all this.

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 08/17/09 at 02:41 PM ET

Genius. Your own Mr. Norris or quoting? I want to attribute it correctly when I break that line out at the bar.

Ha, my own. Though, it may be one of those things I heard ages ago and stored unconsciously in the back of my head. If so, it’s accidental plagiarism.

he has played over 60 games in those seasons, which to me, is enough to prove that the severe injuries/surgeries he had to overcome, is long since past.

I’m not so sold. Last year he was wildly inconsistent. He went from being suprisingly good to disgustingly bad. I’ll be OK with that kind of gamble so long as the ante isn’t too high. The more over $1m the number creeps the larger my ulcer will get. Lets just hope that I’m not shitting blood before the season even starts.

Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 08/17/09 at 02:41 PM ET

” ... uh, we feel we should still be reasonably competitive.” - Jimmy D.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/17/09 at 01:41 PM ET

Now there’s a vote of confidence.
(Or is James just playing it low key? Hmmm ... ) 

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 08/17/09 at 02:45 PM ET

Let the boycott begin…

For what it’s worth, he DID throw Scary-Face Phaneuf to the ice like a feckin’ rag doll in ‘07…if he’ll do that again and contribute a little on the PP, and learn to not take stupid penalties, he’ll be better than your average enforcer.  As for ‘the incident,’ it was a cheap shot just like a dozen he’d taken before, and that go on every season between fourth-liners without incident.  Obviously he didn’t forsee the end result being what it was, but the fact that he even tried it in the first place is partially his fault, and partially the fault of the League’s lax disciplinary policy—he wouldn’t have tried it if he’d known he wouldn’t have gotten away with it.

But that’s in the past.  Let’s see what materializes, where his back is, and what he can bring.

J-Will and now Stillwoozi.  The Wings want their fans to start cage-fighting amongst themselves.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 08/17/09 at 02:46 PM ET

The Wings want their fans to start cage-fighting amongst themselves.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 08/17/09 at 03:46 PM ET

BRING IT!  I’m tired of throwing Pen(i)s fans off of their big wheels….Hay-O!

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/17/09 at 02:51 PM ET