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Calgary Flames Sign Todd Bertuzzi, 1 Year
by Alanah McGinley on 07/07/08 at 12:45 PM ET
Comments (11)
via press release:
Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the signing of free agent forward Todd Bertuzzi.
“Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings,” said Sutter. “He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one year deal was important to our philosophy. He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team.”
added 1:30pm (Paul), from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
So naturally, your first thought is, what could they possibly be thinking?
How could the Calgary Flames, with their eyes wide open, possibly sign Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year contract with the NHL team? After all that happened — the Steve Moore incident and the persistent distraction that it had become; the decline in production, the injuries — after all that, how could the Flames assume the risk of putting Bertuzzi in their line-up next season, a year in which they legitimately think they can challenge for a Stanley Cup?
The official explanations will be coming later today, on a conference call with the general manager, Darryl Sutter, but let’s start with a couple of threads that need to be pulled.
1:44pm ET: Bertuzzi’s salary is $1.95 million (per TSN’s tracker).
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: todd+bertuzzi,
Comments
Guess Keenan just can’t get enough of Bert.
Posted by Randy from Fredericton on 07/07/08 at 12:22 PM ET
Pretty good signing… Keenan just cant seem to get enough of Bertuzzi it seems.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 07/07/08 at 12:39 PM ET
“Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings”
Todd may prove me wrong, but I think these days his ability to play both wings is no better than my ability to play piano with both hands. And unless Chopsticks suddenly comes in vogue, I won’t be playing concerts anytime soon.
Posted by BobTheZee on 07/07/08 at 01:02 PM ET
I actually think its a good signing for the money involved. Sure he has played much/well since ‘04, but he may be able to turn it around in Calgary. If it doesn’t work out, oh well it’s not like they signed him to a 2 yr/8 mil deal and had to buy him out before year 2!
Posted by Mac from Canada on 07/07/08 at 01:25 PM ET
That’s too bad. I figured the only other team he’d fit with besides the Duckies was Philly.
We’ve seen how he’s played in Vancouver, Florida, Detroit, and Anaheim post-mugging. May as well fail for another team. Drop the expectations down to a 3rd/4th line plugger who can spot 10 goals, and maybe it’ll work out.
If you’re really lucky, the Flames agressive style will teach him how to hit again.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 07/07/08 at 01:58 PM ET
Yeah, this isn’t a bad deal. One year is the right term, and the dollar value reflects his potential without ignoring the reality.
Considering he’s a replacement for Owen Nolan, who just signed a two year contract worth $2.75 million each year, this is an enormously more reasonable contract.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 07/07/08 at 03:44 PM ET
Bertuzzi’s certainly not the player he was before Steve Moore got what he deserved for cheapshotting Markus Naslund, but I still would’ve like to have seen Bertie in Rangers uniform re-united with Nazzy
Posted by Percy Weaver from New York on 07/07/08 at 05:46 PM ET
In 20 games playing with Perry and Getzlaf last season, he had 23 points. He is still capable of putting up great numbers if he plays with great players.
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 07/07/08 at 07:19 PM ET
I agree, NHLJeff, plus Bertuzzi’s injury last season was a concussion sustained when Boogard elbowed him in the head behind play, which, of course, was not a penalty since it was Bertuzzi on the receiving end, but still, this guy has some good hockey left if folks will just leave him alone.
Posted by Percy Weaver from New York on 07/07/08 at 08:21 PM ET
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Huh. I thought he’d re-sign with the Canucks and finish his career there.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 07/07/08 at 12:06 PM ET