Canucks Rewind: The Todd Bertuzzi trade, and his time spent in Vancouver

Every team dreams of finding their franchise power forward, and the Vancouver Canucks were no exception.

These players can be legitimate threats every time they step onto the ice, combining offensive firepower and hard-hitting toughness to establish a dominant and daunting presence that opponents fear.

Some organizations patiently wait on these prospects to blossom, eventually giving up when the frustration becomes too much to handle, whereas others strike out shortly after signing or trading for that year’s shiniest new toy.

No matter the case, it is much better to play alongside a power-forward instead of against one.

For almost 30 years, the Canucks organization searched far and wide for such elite talent, and it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that the organization finally found a way to turn their dreams into reality. Little did they know that this transaction would drastically reshape their forward core for years to come.

Of course, we’re talking about the legendary Todd Bertuzzi.

Looking back on Bertuzzi’s NHL career

After registering 80 points in 106 games with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League, Bertuzzi was selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Regarded as one of the strongest players of that draft class, the Islanders had high hopes for the Sudbury, Ontario native.

Unfortunately, the injury bug bit Bertuzzi very early on in his professional career. He underwent elbow surgery shortly after the draft, and was unable to attend training camp for the upcoming season.

He returned to the OHL for the next two years, putting up 201 points in 123 games, which was highlighted by an astonishing 54-goal, 119-point performance during his final year with the club. Bertuzzi made the most of his time in Ontario, refining his skating abilities and improving the efficacy of his net-front presence in order to prove that he was ready for the big leagues.

Bertuzzi made his NHL debut with the Islanders on October 7th, 1995, and he finished his rookie campaign with 18 goals and 21 assists.

Unfortunately, this was the peak of his offensive contributions on Long Island.

Over the next two seasons, Bertuzzi only registered 41 points in 116 games, and made regular appearances in the minors throughout the 1997-98 campaign. He was unable to live up to the club’s high expectations of him, and, like many struggling players before him, was ready for a change of scenery.

On February 6th, 1998, his wish was finally granted.

The trade

That day, the Islanders received long-time Canuck Trevor Linden. In return, Bertuzzi, along with fellow 1993 draft selection Bryan McCabe and a 1998 third-round pick, was sent West to the Vancouver Canucks.

Similar to the Islanders, the Canucks were also in a rebuild mode and were struggling mightily to climb out of the Western Conference basement. Bertuzzi, however, still found a way to make an immediate impact with his new club, registering 15 points and 62 PIM to round out the final 22 games of the 1997-98 season.

And fortunately, for Canucks fans and management alike, this was only just the beginning for ‘Big Bert’.

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Despite being limited to only 32 games in the 1998-99 season, Bertuzzi was able to produce at a half-a-point-per-game pace, showing management that he could not only battle back from injury, but that he was also making strides towards re-establishing his offensive game. That offseason, he signed a two-year contract to remain with the Western Canadian club, ready to prove himself as an effective power forward in the league.

And he did not disappoint.

In the first year of his new contract, Bertuzzi registered 25 goals, 50 points and 126 PIM in 80 games, and also received the Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award at the end of the season, as voted by the fans. After registering up 55 points the following year, he was able to put up an astounding 85-point performance during the 2001-02 campaign, which was good for 3rd in league scoring.

More importantly, Bertuzzi helped end the team’s four-year playoff drought. They lost to the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche in the 2001 playoffs, and also fell to the Detroit Red Wings the following year. Despite consecutive first-round exits, there was still lots to be hopeful for.

Bertuzzi recorded four goals and four assists during his first two postseason appearances and had found undeniable chemistry with linemates, Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund. The Canucks were starting to emerge as a legitimate threat in the Northwest Division and were poised for a breakout year.