Todd Bertuzzi is back in the NHL. Steve Moore's return is not so certain.
Bertuzzi was reinstated by commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday, 17 months after the Vancouver Canucks forward's blindside punch left Moore with a broken neck and a murky playing future.
Bertuzzi was suspended for the final 13 regular-season games of the 2003-04 season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. His banishment continued throughout last season's NHL lockout, which kept Bertuzzi from playing in the World Cup of Hockey last September and the past two world championships.
He also was barred from playing in any European league last season.
Bertuzzi and Moore met separately with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for Bertuzzi's reinstatement hearing on April 26. The Vancouver right winger needed the commissioner's approval before being allowed back into the league.
``I find that the appropriate discipline to be imposed for Mr. Bertuzzi's conduct on March 8, 2004 is the suspension that has been served to date,'' Bettman said in a statement.
``Mr. Bertuzzi's actions were deserving of an appropriately harsh sanction,'' Bettman said, describing the hit as going ``beyond what could ever be considered acceptable behavior in the National Hockey League. Mr. Bertuzzi must be held responsible for the results of his actions, and the message must be delivered loudly and forcefully that the game will not tolerate this type of conduct.''
The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 in salary. He is due to earn more than $5.2 million from the Canucks in the upcoming season.
As per terms of his criminal probation, Bertuzzi will not be permitted to play in any game in which Moore is an opponent. That may never come to pass, however -- Moore, who may never play again because of the injury, was not re-signed by the Avalanche and is an unrestricted free agent.
``He is quite disappointed, given he is unable to resume his NHL career and may never resume his NHL career,'' Tim Danson, the lawyer representing Moore, told The Canadian Press. ``It's disappointing to him that Mr. Bertuzzi is able to resume his career at this particular time. Steve has an uncertain future. He's got health challenges to deal with.
``While he maintains a very positive attitude . . . at this point he really is in the hands of doctors who will have to make the determination whether or not he will be able to play again.''
Moore's Denver attorney, Lee Foreman, didn't immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
Bettman said in his summary statement, which consisted of 10 pages and nearly 5,000 words, that Bertuzzi's behavior will be watched closely this season.
``While I believe that reinstatement of Mr. Bertuzzi at this point in time is appropriate and consistent with a 'fresh start' for the 2005-06 season, I want to make it clear that any future acts by Mr. Bertuzzi involving a review for possible supplemental discipline will require an in-person hearing,'' Bettman said. ``If discipline is to be imposed, Mr. Bertuzzi should understand that it will be more severe than might otherwise be the case for similar acts committed by other NHL players.
Wayne Gretzky, hired earlier Monday as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, immediately invited Bertuzzi to Canada's Olympic Orientation camp to be held later this month. Gretzky also serves as executive director of Team Canada.
``I'm glad the NHL has finally stepped in and put him back in the game and reinstated him,'' Gretzky told TSN. ``Nobody condones what Todd did. I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell you it was a mistake.
``But you know it's time to move forward. We will invite him to our training camp. He's an elite player and I expect him to have a great year and be part of Team Canada come February in Italy.''
Because of the lockout, the NHL waited over a year to hold Bertuzzi's hearing, and Bettman waited nearly four more months to announce his decision.
Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely for the hit that left Moore with a broken neck, a concussion and no guarantee that he'd still be a professional hockey player. With the Avalanche ahead 8-2 in the game, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore from behind, punched him on the side of his head and then landed on top of Moore, driving his head into the ice. The bloodied Colorado player was removed on a stretcher.
The attack was seen as retaliation for a hit Moore put on Vancouver star Markus Naslund that left the Canucks captain with a concussion and sidelined him for three games.
Bertuzzi first asked for his reinstatement hearing last December, around the time he pleaded guilty in a Vancouver court to criminal assault and was given a conditional discharge. After facing up to 18 months in prison, he was given a year's probation and sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
Bertuzzi was reinstated by commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday, 17 months after the Vancouver Canucks forward's blindside punch left Moore with a broken neck and a murky playing future.
Bertuzzi was suspended for the final 13 regular-season games of the 2003-04 season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. His banishment continued throughout last season's NHL lockout, which kept Bertuzzi from playing in the World Cup of Hockey last September and the past two world championships.
He also was barred from playing in any European league last season.
Bertuzzi and Moore met separately with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for Bertuzzi's reinstatement hearing on April 26. The Vancouver right winger needed the commissioner's approval before being allowed back into the league.
``I find that the appropriate discipline to be imposed for Mr. Bertuzzi's conduct on March 8, 2004 is the suspension that has been served to date,'' Bettman said in a statement.
``Mr. Bertuzzi's actions were deserving of an appropriately harsh sanction,'' Bettman said, describing the hit as going ``beyond what could ever be considered acceptable behavior in the National Hockey League. Mr. Bertuzzi must be held responsible for the results of his actions, and the message must be delivered loudly and forcefully that the game will not tolerate this type of conduct.''
The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 in salary. He is due to earn more than $5.2 million from the Canucks in the upcoming season.
As per terms of his criminal probation, Bertuzzi will not be permitted to play in any game in which Moore is an opponent. That may never come to pass, however -- Moore, who may never play again because of the injury, was not re-signed by the Avalanche and is an unrestricted free agent.
``He is quite disappointed, given he is unable to resume his NHL career and may never resume his NHL career,'' Tim Danson, the lawyer representing Moore, told The Canadian Press. ``It's disappointing to him that Mr. Bertuzzi is able to resume his career at this particular time. Steve has an uncertain future. He's got health challenges to deal with.
``While he maintains a very positive attitude . . . at this point he really is in the hands of doctors who will have to make the determination whether or not he will be able to play again.''
Moore's Denver attorney, Lee Foreman, didn't immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
Bettman said in his summary statement, which consisted of 10 pages and nearly 5,000 words, that Bertuzzi's behavior will be watched closely this season.
``While I believe that reinstatement of Mr. Bertuzzi at this point in time is appropriate and consistent with a 'fresh start' for the 2005-06 season, I want to make it clear that any future acts by Mr. Bertuzzi involving a review for possible supplemental discipline will require an in-person hearing,'' Bettman said. ``If discipline is to be imposed, Mr. Bertuzzi should understand that it will be more severe than might otherwise be the case for similar acts committed by other NHL players.
Wayne Gretzky, hired earlier Monday as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, immediately invited Bertuzzi to Canada's Olympic Orientation camp to be held later this month. Gretzky also serves as executive director of Team Canada.
``I'm glad the NHL has finally stepped in and put him back in the game and reinstated him,'' Gretzky told TSN. ``Nobody condones what Todd did. I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell you it was a mistake.
``But you know it's time to move forward. We will invite him to our training camp. He's an elite player and I expect him to have a great year and be part of Team Canada come February in Italy.''
Because of the lockout, the NHL waited over a year to hold Bertuzzi's hearing, and Bettman waited nearly four more months to announce his decision.
Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely for the hit that left Moore with a broken neck, a concussion and no guarantee that he'd still be a professional hockey player. With the Avalanche ahead 8-2 in the game, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore from behind, punched him on the side of his head and then landed on top of Moore, driving his head into the ice. The bloodied Colorado player was removed on a stretcher.
The attack was seen as retaliation for a hit Moore put on Vancouver star Markus Naslund that left the Canucks captain with a concussion and sidelined him for three games.
Bertuzzi first asked for his reinstatement hearing last December, around the time he pleaded guilty in a Vancouver court to criminal assault and was given a conditional discharge. After facing up to 18 months in prison, he was given a year's probation and sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
