I'm going to try to summarize my thoughts on the Bertuzzi thing from my point of view. I'm a Canucks fan, so keep that in mind, and keep in mind also I'm not really a huge fan of Bertuzzi. I also know this thing has been beaten to death, so I don't even know why I feel the need to post this, but here goes:
1. I think Moore's hit on Naslund was probably "legal", though I find it difficult to say it was "clean". Naslund was in a bent over, reaching for the puck, and Moore took his shot. Naslund was injured, missed a few games with a concussion, and played the rest of the season with an injured elbow. The Canucks were furious at the time, as any team would be, but they were in a tight race with the Aves, and leading the game 1-0, so they weren't going to risk a penalty going after Moore that night. In his post game scrum, Crawford rips in to the refs for not calling a penalty on the Naslund hit. The comments from the Canucks room include May's famous "bounty" comment. That kind of threat had made before, and will be made again. The Avalanche didn't think much of it, clearly, signing May before this season.
2. The rhetoric was such that league officials attended the next game between the two clubs, and warned both teams. Brookbank and Worrell fought, but not too much else happened. Again, the Canucks are trying to win the division, and erase a 2-goal Avalanche lead in the third to earn a 5-5 tie. Had there been a conspiracy to "injure" Moore, might they not have done something this night?
3. We all know what happened 1 year ago tonight. Canucks get blown out. Moore has the nerve to score one of the goals. Moore starts a fight with Matt Cooke - which Moore probably thought would end things. Probably should have ended things. "Ok, I've fought, that's it." His choice of Canuck was poor, however, and probably angered the embarrased Canuck team even further. If there was a knock on Matt Cooke, what would it be? Its that he can't back up his agressive play, and won't fight. Moore refused many other invitations to fight that evening, as is his right. The tension in the air is electric. Even watching on TV, you could tell something bad might happen.
Bertuzzi, never a player able to keep his emotions in check very well, is pissed off. "This little punk laid out my best friend, he jumps our worst fighter, he's yapping at us all night, won't answer the bell with anybody else, I'm gonna have a go at him".
Bertuzzi stalks Moore all up and down the ice, trying to get Moore to fight. Moore's team is winning, what, 9-2? He has no reason to fight Bertuzzi, he's done his job. Besides, it'll piss him off even more if he dosen't fight.
Then Bertuzzi, beacause he's an idiot, takes a round house punch at Moore, knocking him out. Moore falls, Bertuzzi falls on top -still intent, I might add, on throwing punches at Moore. The rest of the players pile on, and the crowd, not yet aware that Moore is hurt, is in full voice. As they would be at any other arena. As the pile-up clears, it is clear something is wrong. Moore hasn't moved. There's a pool of blood on the ice. The crowd falls deathly silent. Moore is stretchered off.
Lacroix comes out the next morning and holds a press conference. "I'm not a doctor, but it's a broken neck."
"Broken neck" becomes the quote of the day. This is the point where this story becomes a ridiculous farce, and the single biggest over-reaction to any incident in the history of hockey. Regis and Kelly - Regis and Kelly, for chrissakes!, are talking about how this big bad hockey player broke another players neck. Broken neck, broken neck, broken neck. Never a mention that the neck injury was bad, but would heal. Never a mention about Moore's concussion- which is the injury that keeps him out to this day.
If Moore wasn't hurt, Bertuzzi gets five and a game, and maybe a 1 or 2 game suspension. Bertuzzi's suckerpunch was dangerous and stupid, but it was a punch. The next week, Wade Belak crosschecks another player, as hard as he can, right in face. Now, if you were given the choice, would you rather bit blindsided by a powerful gloved suckerpuch to to the back of the helmet - or crosschecked in the face? I'll tell you that would be a pretty easy decision for me.
But Moore IS hurt. The League has always stated that it was the act they punished, not the result. If it was just the act, no way Bertuzzi gets a 17 month suspension. But with all the media hype, the league had no choice.
My feelings are that Moore and his family should be angry - Steve's dream was taken from him due to the careless actions of another player. The Moore family has every right to sue for whatever they can get, and if they hold a grudge against Bertuzzi, who am I to blame them?
I think the majority of fans, however, need to get over this in a big way. Bertuzzi is not a criminal or a thug or a goon. He didn't "curse" Canada in Italy. His action was not the worst in in the history of hockey - likely not even top 50. Avalanche fans can get on the high horse all they want. Remember Claude Lemuiex? Please.
Bertuzzi made a stupid mistake, one that cost another player his dream. Moore's injury was bad luck - bad luck for Bertuzzi, and a million times worse for Moore.
My advice would be that, other than Moore and his family, the rest of us need to get over this thing.