Category Archive for ‘Todd Bertuzzi’ at On the Wings

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Ansar Khan’s injury update

Published

on March 12, 2007

in Chris Chelios, Chris Osgood, Dan Cleary, Danny Markov, Dominik Hasek, Henrik Zetterberg, Injuries, Kris Draper, Links, Mathieu Schneider, Pavel Datsyuk, Robert Lang and Todd Bertuzzi

. 0 Comments

Ansar Khan has an injury update posted on his blog. Summary:

Chris Osgood will start instead of Dominik Hasek tomorrow night. Hasek was supposed to start both games, but his thigh injury changed that plan. He will play Wednesday night instead and will do the back-to-back games on March 29th in Nashville and March 30th at home against Dallas.
Danny Markov (upper body) is slated to be back Saturday against the Canucks.
Johan Franzen (upper body) and Dan Cleary (knee sprain) could return on the 20th in Calgary. If so, they’ll miss the March 17th game in Vancouver.
Mike Babcock officially said that Henrik Zetterberg (back inflammation) and Todd Bertuzzi (back) will not play until after the Vancouver/Calgary trip. So, a March 22nd debut for Bertuzzi and return for Zetterberg, at the earliest.
Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper, Robert Lang, Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider did not take part in the optional practice today, but all will play tomorrow night, according to Mike Babcock.

The injury problems the Wings have been going through should put losses like yesterday’s in perspective. Sure, it was bad, but they’re missing some key players and other guys are either playing hurt or just recovering from injuries. And yet, they’ve been winning more often than not. Once everyone’s healthy, they should play better and more complete games.

3/1 Late Notes

Published

Matt Saler

on March 1, 2007

in Brett Lebda, Chris Chelios, Henrik Zetterberg, Lines, Todd Bertuzzi and Tomas Kopecky

. 0 Comments

Sorry about taking all day to post something. It’s pretty much the first chance I’ve had, as my computer has been giving me problems. Just a few interesting tidbits:

… Todd Bertuzzi had his first full practice with the team today, which apparently surprised Mike Babcock, who had told him, “You don’t have to impress us today. You impressed us already, that’s why you’re here and let’s just get you back.” Still, this doesn’t mean he’s going to be coming back any sooner.

The obvious topic choice for the media after the practice was Bertuzzi’s attack on Steve Moore. Understandably, it’s not his favorite topic (I wonder if the Freep picture captures his face as he faced those questions) and he tried to deflect the conversation away from it:

“The only people who talk about and discuss it is usually media and all that. You know, I gotta respect that you guys have a job to do and I understand it.”

Chris Chelios provided some input as well, obviously siding with his new teammate:

“For the most part, all hockey players are good guys. What happens on the ice doesn’t carry on off the ice. I can’t wait to see him play for us.”

He may be a good guy off the ice, but he’s not going to be able to throw off the stigma from what he did. I just hope The Incident doesn’t become central to his time here or else it’s going to be difficult for him to be effective.

Also in the Khan blog post from which the Chelios quote came:

… The lines will remain the same as they were on Tuesday

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Filppula
Calder-Lang-Franzen
Hudler-Draper-Maltby
Ellis-Hussey-Langfeld

… Brett Lebda did not practice today due to the flu. That may put his status in question for tomorrow night’s game against the Hawks. In the event that he sits out, Andreas Lilja will get another game in the lineup despite Chris Chelios’ return.

… Apparently, Tomas Kopecky also had a full practice today, though the Wings are still decided whether or not he’ll be returning this season. Khan says it seems unlikely, which makes sense both because of the seriousness of his injury and the mere fact that the roster is now packed with guys who will get the ice-time that might otherwise have gone to Kopecky.

… George Sipple elaborates on the interesting story that Owen Nolan chose not to come to Detroit on Deadline Day. Apparently, his wife is pregnant and he does not want to move at this time, which is entirely understandable.
… Lastly, Henrik Zetterberg was the NHL’s #1 Star for February.

Zetterberg out 2-3 weeks

Published

Matt Saler

on February 28, 2007

in Dan Cleary, Henrik Zetterberg, Injuries, Matt Hussey, Mikael Samuelsson and Todd Bertuzzi

. 0 Comments

Bad news: the Freep reports that Henrik Zetterberg will miss 2-3 weeks with an inflammed disk in his back. He had spasms in practice on Monday during practice, and through no problem was found on the initial MRI, a second scan revealed some damage, which Ken Holland says is nothing significant. However, he is expected to rest 7-10 days in hopes that the inflammation subsides.

As bad as it is to have Hank out for so long, a down time of 2-3 weeks means he won’t miss playoff time. There’s the good news.

Matt Hussey, who was sent back to GR today, will return to Detroit to help fill in, beginning Friday against Chicago.

Aside from Zetterberg, the Wings’ injury list stands at Dan Cleary (2-3 weeks, knee sprain), Todd Bertuzzi (2-4 weeks, back) and Mikael Samuelsson (1-2 weeks, broken foot).

As Helene St. James points out, the Wings fortunately have a fairly light schedule to round out the year, with not as much travel as they’ve had over the past couple months, and fewer teams against tough opponents.

However, they do play the Predators four more times (March 6th, 13th, 14th, and 29th), three of which will come before any of the injured Wings, except perhaps Samuelsson, are likely to return. Not good, especially given those games are very important in the race for first place in the Division/Conference.

Bertuzzi to Wings

Published

Sarah Baker

on February 27, 2007

in Panthers, Roster Moves and Todd Bertuzzi

. 1 Comment

Update (Matt, 7:50 PM): Ansar Khan has an informative blog post up on the deal, including a breakdown of its conditions and a reaction. Check it out. - Matt

Update (Matt, 4:35 PM): George Malik has comments by Bertuzzi from the phone interview TSN did after the trade. Basically, Todd is excited to be a Wing and thankful that they have faith in him. He’s not 100% yet and isn’t going to rush his return, especially since the Wings are so comfortable in the standings, but sounds like he could be pretty close.

He’s going to be on WXYT 1270 AM (Detroit area) at 5:30 PM ET today. You can listen in at their website, just click Listen Live. - Matt

Update (Matt, 4:07 PM): I feel pretty dumb after my post yesterday on the Wings’ trading situation, in which I said, “it’s time to give up the idea of the Wings making a big acquisition,” among other related things.This is a Big Name acquisition, though I suppose part of my point still stands: that the Wings weren’t going to get someone they had to pay a high price for. They got a big name off the market, but overall they lost very little overall in the process. Both players they’ve brought in have a good shot at being big contributors.

At this point, it looks like Holland did a pretty good job. - Matt

Update (Matt, 3:45 PM): Okay, I’ve had some time to digest the deal and here’s my reaction: I think I’m going to find it a little hard to accept Bertuzzi as a Wing because it’s instinctual for me to think of him as the enemy (and not because of the Moore incident, per se). Plus, his health is a concern and will remain so even if he’s passed muster with the team’s health professionals.

However, if healthy, he can bring a lot to the team both in offensive ability and physicality. He’s what many Wings fans have lusted after for years, and now we finally have someone who, on paper, at least, can fulfill that desire for a big, bruising power forward.

When Chris Chelios came here, he was as hated a player and now he’s a fan favorite. I’m not saying that’ll happen with Bertuzzi, but I suppose it’s possible.

I’m conflicted. I felt dirty when I first read about the trade, but now excitement is rising. I’m interested in seeing how it all works out and I wish he were suiting up tonight. - Matt

Update (3:00): Here’s a little information on Shawn Matthias, the prospect we gave up for Bertuzzi. Red Wings Central has him ranked 13th in the prospects. He is currently playing for Belleville of the OHL. He was our second choice (47th overall) in the 2006 entry draft, and was not currently signed. He’s a good sized center and has 13 goals and 34 points in 67 games for Belleville this season. -Megan

Update (2:47): TSN just gave details. Apparently Florida gets another 2nd rounder if Bert re-signs. The conditional pick is based on team performance and Bertuzzi’s play. - Sarah

Update (2:36PM): It’s official. Bertuzzi is now a Wing. Not sure who the prospect is yet. Apparently someone in juniors. I’ll update as soon as I have more details -Sarah

TSN reports that the Florida Panthers have agreed on a deal to send Todd Bertuzzi to the Red Wings in exchange for a conditional draft pick and a prospect. The announcers caution that, given Bertuzzi’s injury status, the deal is pending until the official conference call with the league.

Khan on the Forsberg deal

Published

Matt Saler

on February 16, 2007

in Hockey Media, Links, Peter Forsberg and Todd Bertuzzi

. 4 Comments

Ansar Khan wrote on the Forsberg trade last night, pointing out that it’s better for the Wings that he ended up in Nashville rather than Anaheim, as a possible matchup with a Forsberg/Pronger team would make things tough in the first round. In Nashville, he can’t hurt the Wings until later rounds, if at all.

It’s looking like it will be tough for the Wings to respond with a big trade of their own, but possible acquisitions include (as listed by Khan) Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, Todd Bertuzzi, Gary Roberts, Owen Nolan, Fredrik Modin, and Marco Sturm. I have to say that none of those names really appeal to me, but I’d take any one of them as long as they don’t go after Bertuzzi.

2/9 Notes

Published

Matt Saler

on February 9, 2007

in Blues, Chris Chelios, Henrik Zetterberg, Hockey Media, Joey MacDonald, Leafs, Manny Legace, Mark Messier, Peter Forsberg, Selke, Todd Bertuzzi and Trade Rumors

. 2 Comments

Update (10. Feb, 12:45 AM): Over at KK, Chuck Gormley has some more on the Forsberg situation. He believes that if Forsberg decides to ask for a trade to one of a list of teams, his preferences, “would probably be, in order, Detroit (Lidstrom), Vancouver (Naslund), Anaheim and San Jose.”

I’ve heard the Forsberg-Naslund connection talked up a lot (i.e., they’re childhood friends and used to hope to play together again for their hometeam, MoDo - which they did during the lockout), but not one with Lidstrom so much (it must be from their time together on national teams as they’ve never played together professionally). Interesting that Nick may be a bigger pull than Naslund, thought it could be more because of the Wings’ chances than anything else. If it’s true. - Matt

Update (2:50 PM): ESPN’s Scott Burnside has a take on the Mark Messier GM story that’s similar to my reaction, though his commentary is quite a bit less inflammatory than my knee-jerk rhetoric. - Matt

… The Wings were shut out for the first time in 176 games last night as the Blues beat them 1-0 in St. Louis. It looks as though they had another slow start to the game and never really recovered, despite strong goaltending by Joey MacDonald. Joey gave them a chance to win by stopping everything except for a freak goal that went in off Chris Chelios.

For Blues fans, the bad news is that Manny Legace was hurt during the second period in a collision with Thomas Holmstrom.

The Wings play Calgary at home next, on Sunday at 6:00 PM ET.

Since I did not see the game and cannot provide a first-hand account, I suggest going to Gorilla Crouch, where Dave will probaby publish one soon, and No Pun Intended, where Steph already has.

… Unfortunately for the Wings, the Predators did not lose last night. They beat the Leafs in a penalty-filled affair in Nashville and are again in the lead by three points. They can go up by five with a win over the Kings on Saturday.

…. Ted Kulfan suggests that Henrik Zetterberg could be in the running for the Selke Trophy this year. I agree, and thought the same thing last year. It’s the young stars in the East that get all the attention, and though they obviously deserve a lot, I’m with Wayne Gretzky in saying Zetterberg is flying under many people’s radar.

… Kulfan and George Sipple of the Free Press both mention the rumor that the Wings are interested in Todd Bertuzzi. I’ll be frank: I would be absolutely appalled if they do end up going that route. You know may recall my opposition toward acquiring Peter Forsberg due to the uncertainty about his health. Well, I’d take Foppa any day over Bertuzzi, ankle problems and all (even more so now that he’s found some kind of workable solution). Ugh. There is no reason to bring Todd and his baggage into the lockerroom. Please Kenny, no Bertuzzi.

Oh, and by the way, the Forsberg rumor is heating up slightly, with the story currently being that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for three teams only: Detroit, Anaheim, and Montreal.