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

Enter the 2002-03 season.

Bertuzzi found himself back on the first line with Naslund and Morrison, and the trio picked up right where they left off from the following season. Their up-tempo and high-scoring style of hockey was becoming widely recognized throughout the league, and other teams quivered when they had to face off against the West Coast Express.

The Canucks were officially back in the playoff picture, but this was also the year that Bertuzzi solidified himself as the dominant power forward that everyone expected him to be. He registered a career-high 46 goals, 51 assists and 97 points, finishing fifth in league scoring.

More importantly, he started to garner the attention and respect of fellow players in the league. He was named to the first All-Star team and even finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting for league MVP.

The Canucks qualified for the postseason that year, after almost claiming the top spot in the Northwest Division. They were able to knock off the St. Louis Blues in the first round but blew a 3-1 series lead against the Minnesota Wild during round two. Bertuzzi recorded 60 PIM over those 14 games, but only put up six points.

Despite the poor statistical playoff performance, Bertuzzi inked a four-year contract extension right before the 2003-04 season to remain in Vancouver. He registered 60 points in 69 games, and was once again named to the NHL All-Star team for the second consecutive year.

Unfortunately, Bertuzzi would be remembered for something much worse that season.

The infamous incident

On March 8th, 2004, Bertuzzi was involved in an altercation with Avalanche forward Steve Moore, sucker-punching him from behind and driving his head to the ice before knocking him unconscious. He was suspended indefinitely by the league, and Moore never played a professional hockey game again.

This would be the turning point for Bertuzzi’s career.

Despite registering 71 points in the 2005-06 season, Bertuzzi’s play was starting to diminish. Both he and Naslund were no longer the offensive juggernauts that the team previously relied on, and it seemed like the younger players, such as Henrik and Daniel Sedin, were ready to accept the torch.

Bertuzzi was also receiving a lot of heat off the ice, as a result of the Moore incident. He was continuously heckled and ridiculed by fans throughout the league and was unable to shake off the negative effects of the continuous media coverage and assault charge complications.

Similar to his time in New York, Canuck management felt that Bertuzzi needed another change of scenery to rediscover his game.

He was traded to the Florida Panthers on June 23rd, 2006.

Bertuzzi bounced around the league for the remainder of his career following this trade, suiting up for Florida, Anaheim, Calgary and Detroit. He was still able to put up decent offensive numbers, and even adapted his playing style to include more defensive responsibilities. Unfortunately, he was never able to showcase the talent and skill that made him one of the best power forwards in the league.

Bertuzzi officially retired from the NHL in 2015. He finished his career with 770 points and 1,159 games played.

During his time with the Canucks, Bertuzzi established himself as a consistent offensive threat. His combination of smooth puck-handling skills, quick skating ability, effective net-front presence and overall toughness and grit was truly unique amongst other players in the league, and he played an integral role in reshaping the team’s identity for much of the 2000’s decade.

He helped the team to climb their way to the top of the Northwest Division, and even though that success never translated into the postseason, it raised the expectations for future players and fans.

Regardless of his underwhelming playoff achievements and notorious altercation with Moore, Bertuzzi is still regarded as one of the best power forwards to ever suit up for the Vancouver franchise.

To this day, he still holds a top-10 spot in many Canuck records, including goals, assists, points and hat tricks. He will always be a fan favourite in this city, as displayed from his deafening ovation during the organization’s 50th anniversary pre-game celebrations in October 2019.

You’re a beaut, no. 44!