Bertuzzi re-signs with Red Wings

by Ryan Weiss on Jun 16, 2010 7:31 PM CDT in News

Prepare for two more years of spin-o-rama's folks.

Todd Bertuzzi has ended his mini-holdout and signed a two year, $3.875 million deal to stay with the Red Wings. Bertuzzi's agent had been keeping the Wings at bay the past few weeks, and it looked like Bertuzzi might test the free agent market that opens July 1. But in the end, he decided to stay in Detroit, where he'll spend a second straight season with the same team for the first time since 2003-04 and 2005-06, his last two seasons in Vancouver.

"It’s just a really good fit for me," the forward said. "My kids were so pumped when they found out we’re going back for two more years -- now my son gets to stay in his hockey program, and they get to go back to the same schools."

"Playing with guys like Pavel Datsyuk and (Henrik Zetterberg) was great, but so was just being able to fit into the system," Bertuzzi said. "It’s just a great group of guys to be around."

Bertuzzi's deal puts Detroit's payroll next year at $54.192 million for 18 players---just about $5 million under the expected $58.8 million cap. Capgeek.com lists his cap hit at $1.937 million for both years, a raise of $400,00 from his contract last season. Because Bertuzzi is over 35, his contract will count against the cap regardless of whether he retires or not.

Honestly, the deal is a little disappointing because it just doesn't seem like Bertuzzi did enough to get a raise. Sure he scored 18 goals, but he went long stretches without producing and didn't do so until he played with one of the top units. Still, I can live with the deal because there is still plenty of cap space to re-sign guys like Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves. Here's hoping Big Bert earns every penny.

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Me thinks

This will be great for some depth. We’ll have Hudler back next year and maybe one surprise deal and we won’t have as much depth as we did as in 08 or 09 but at least somewhat more then we had this year. As much as Bertuzzi haters are there throughout the Wings fanbase we owe Bertuzzi alot for some of this team’s success this year. Maybe he’ll be better next year he had a hard time scoring in the early parts of the season but then again the pressure was on him because the Wings superstars were getting injured rapidly and he didn’t have enough time to get into any chemistry with the stars before they got injured until some bursts (Early December) but most shown late in the season with the Flip-Z-Bert line when every single person was Healthy.

On another note, the Ilari Flippula signing intrigues me. The Wings could have their own version of the Sedin twins if they work together good enough later :)

by SonicMario(RW) on Jun 16, 2010 8:14 PM CDT reply actions

bert wasnt awful last year, as many would say. but hes a douche for HOLDING OUT for a RAISE that he doesnt deserve on a perennial cup contending team like the WINGS. he deserves half the salary hes getting. it was an insult to kenny holland and our organization. i hope he gets cut or something. we coulda gotten a far better player for just under 2mil per year.
theres no way ilari fil is anywhere as good as val unfortunately. he’ll be lucky to play a full season in the ahl.

by hyeh81 on Jun 16, 2010 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta say, I agree with you on bert. We still have cap space, but could have had that much more. His pay shouldve stayed the same.

by mikerlz on Jun 16, 2010 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions

How do you figure he was holding out for a raise? He was signed well before free agency, not mid-December.

by Robocop on Jun 17, 2010 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

sorry, wrong use of words

i was just enraged at bert. i was trying to point out that he got a raise he didnt deserve. and the hold out was refering to the fact that any idiot with twice his talent would lick up deal the day it was offered.

by hyeh81 on Jun 17, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the depth is an interesting aspect to this. Where does Bertuzzi fit now with Hulder back? All the way down on the third line? I hadn’t really thought about it until you brought it up just now but it will be interesting to see where he fits on the lines. Assuming Abdelkader and Helm re-sign (which all indications seem that they will) they will be challenging for some third line minutes along with Ritola.

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen
Filppula-Zetterberg-Cleary
Ritola/Abdelkader-Hudler-Bertuzzi?
Draper-Helm-Eaves/Abdelkader

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 17, 2010 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what?? He got a raise…I am astounded. Everyone (including me) was talking about keeping his salary the same, or maybe a slight cut. WOW. Here’s to hoping he doesn’t try to make fancy passes to no one in particular considering he got a raise…

by plopperrawr on Jun 16, 2010 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

Here’s to hoping he doesn’t try to make fancy passes to no one in particular

/facepalm

by mikerlz on Jun 16, 2010 8:40 PM CDT reply actions

that's what he does now

It is in his nature and his essence. >:(

"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Science nerd and proud of it!

by Baroque on Jun 16, 2010 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

And it makes me have to change my underwear every time. And not in a good way.

by plopperrawr on Jun 17, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Looking at the FA market

Bert’s stats are a little better compared to other FA’s making around the same amount as him, so I’m sure that played a part in negotiations as well.

Back off man, I'm a scientist

Winging It In Motown
and SB Nation Detroit --SB Nation's regional hub for all your Detroit sporting needs

by Ryan Weiss on Jun 16, 2010 9:32 PM CDT reply actions

another thing

that was probably a factor was that Bert is one of the only guys we have not named “Datsyuk” who can produce in shootouts. Considering how often we go to (and lose) them, I can see this being a factor too. I’m still kind of surprised he got a raise, but at the same time I think I’d rather go with a known value than take a chance with a potentially risky FA.

No Limits.

by arkanfel on Jun 17, 2010 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

i think you hit it on the head with the known value part. Trying to bring someone else that may have had a better offensive season than Bert into the fold may not work out because different players flourish or flounder in different systems. With Bert, we know that he can produce in the system and if anything, his numbers could go up.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 17, 2010 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

However

With Bert, we know his injury history and the unlikelihood that he’ll get another full healthy season in. That’s what worries me more than what I call “dreidel-passing” (spin like a dreidel and fire the puck in a random direction).

by Brion on Jun 17, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

he was one of three players to play the full schedule last year, maybe he’s healthier now?

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 17, 2010 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

SO UPSET IM FORCED TO TYPE IN CAPS

SIGNED FOR NOT ONE BUT TWO MORE YEARS? AND A RAISE?!?!?! ARE YOU FUCKIN KIDDING ME!!!?!?!?
Anyone in the nhl could score 18 goals when you play the whole year next to pavel and zetterberg, if your on a teams first/2nd line you better score at least 15 goals.
People are so dumb, does anyone realize eaves scored 20 goals his rookie seaon when he was playing on the Power play with daniel afrfedson? anyone can do what bertuzzi does, except most players do so without turning the puck over so much.

by Fiend on Jun 16, 2010 9:43 PM CDT reply actions

this comment

would make Petrella happy. He’s said he could score double the amount of goals that Bert scored last year if he was playing with those guys.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 17, 2010 7:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't mean to rain on your parades...

Bertuzzi will make $2.25 million this year, $1.6 the second.

Back off man, I'm a scientist

Winging It In Motown
and SB Nation Detroit --SB Nation's regional hub for all your Detroit sporting needs

by Ryan Weiss on Jun 16, 2010 10:17 PM CDT reply actions

I guarantee one hooking call. And one slashing call. Did I say one?!?!?

by plopperrawr on Jun 17, 2010 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I just realized

That this is probably the biggest issue between Wings fans over offseason decisons since a long time. And I’m not saying that just because of Bertuzzi. Last year there was the stress of Hudler, Samuelsson, and Hossa leaving but even then most fans disregarded it and didn’t expect a tough early start for the Wings.

But now with the Wings having it’s toughest season in a while people are looking at Scapegoats to trade away. Which includes players acquired from last year’s offseason. Especially Bertuzzi. I’ve said before that Bertuzzi is a subject of multiple sides of the fanbase who was either impressed by his work, hate him outright, or just go “meh”.

On another note, the Wings will have more rest considering the schedule for the Reg. Season is not shortened because of the Olympic Break this time

by SonicMario(RW) on Jun 16, 2010 11:42 PM CDT reply actions

Or a trip to Sweden.

I think the short playoff run, combined with a normal training-camp/preseason, the lack of pond-hopping flights and a normal schedule will help the Wings immeasurably this season.

Little Brother better watch out.

by Robocop on Jun 17, 2010 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Good deal, nice job by Kenny Holland

If this guy’s name wasn’t Todd Bertuzzi, everyone would be excited to have him back for less than $2 million per year. The baggage Bertuzzi carries is why people aren’t happy with this deal, not his on-ice production.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jun 17, 2010 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

I see your point

However…I respectfully disagree, to a point. I was fine with having Bert on the team this past season. I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hate it either. He played alright at times, and would be a decent depth guy (who occasionally has to step up and play on 1st and 2nd lines).

BUT even you cannot deny his ridiculous passes to empty ice (or the opposition), his stupid penalties (he had by far the most minors on the team), and the fact that his production dropped off huge when he wasn’t with Z or Pav. All of this considered…he doesn’t deserve a raise. I would have been fine had he received the same pay, or even taken a cut. But no.

by plopperrawr on Jun 17, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree with handsomerob1

Cut the guy a break, some people never forgive, it’s history even prisoners get pardons. At times he carried the team last year and that gave him a big confidence boost. As far as penalties, if you had to skate on eggshells around the ridiculous officiating in the NHL you might think there was a target on your back also. I’d like to see the Wings recapture the complete awesome player Bert was when GM’s were clawing to get their hands on him. He’s a big man, try to move him off the puck.

by Jim P on Jun 17, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not a Bert fan

but I have no choice but to live with this signing. Decent depth, I guess.

In life, a man is either the hammer or the anvil. Ndamukong Suh is both

by JazzyBBP on Jun 17, 2010 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

well dayum

Dirtty burt lives to decapitate another day

The Red Wings will come back stronger
RESTORE THE ROAR 2010 Detroit Lions

by GOLDIGGAH on Jun 17, 2010 1:53 PM CDT reply actions

Much ado about nothing

I don’t think Bertuzzi is an awesome player. I think he did provide more punch per dollar than just about any Red Wing last year. I think his very modest raise was deserved, and I also think that after a full year in the system and with the health of his teammates improving it is very possible he could be more effective next year than he was last year.

I’m not sure why he’s so polarizing. The bottom line is that Bert isn’t making or breaking this team either way. Don’t pretend otherwise.

by Big Z in Orlando on Jun 17, 2010 5:05 PM CDT reply actions

Glad he signed...

BUT… don’t think he deserved a raise. Regardless if he didn’t wait till the 1st, we know he had to be holding out for something.

If nobody thought he played well last season, I think Bert thought Bert did. Had to have some reason not to take the best thing in front of him. Like a dog, waiting for kibble over steak. Don’t push your luck buddy.

STAND TALL, FLY STRAIGHT, USA ALL THE WAY!

by DetroitALLtheWay09 on Jun 19, 2010 1:03 PM CDT reply actions