Should Todd Bertuzzi been banned for life?

[Laveuglette]

And yes, Bertuzzi should have been banned for life. The worst in that is that it wasn't impulsive. It was premeditated.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Woah, woah, woah. Calm down. All Bertuzzi did was cheap shot a guy from behind enough to fracture his neck and end his career. It's not like he knelt down for a song or something really crazy...

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Kadri crosschecked a guy in the face three months ago.

Which, back in the day, would have been a nightly occurrence for Chris Simon.

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

Had Naslund suffered PCS from the headshot from Moore and never played another game in the NHL, should Moore have been banned for life?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Had Naslund suffered PCS from the headshot from Moore and never played another game in the NHL, should Moore have been banned for life?

Well, for starters, Naslund did have a concussion but he did play numerous games following the Moore cheap shot. If that hit was bad enough to force him into retirement, Moore should have been banned but that's simply not the circumstances being dealt with and it still doesn't equate Moore's hit on Naslund to Bertuzzi's hit on Moore. Bertuzzi's hit is in every measurable way worse than Moore's hit and by a country mile. There's just absolutely no sense in trying to equate the two incidents. Bertuzzi, quite frankly, got off light for what he did and I'm a fan of neither player nor their teams. Bertuzzi had no business playing in the NHL again after that incident and he's a disgrace to the game no matter how sorry he is. This was a mistake on his part that is beyond the pale for professional sports.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Which, back in the day, would have been a nightly occurrence for Chris Simon.

Jesse Boulerice got 20 games for the same thing in the Chris Simon era. No injury. No prior suspensions.

 

[Luminiferous]

I believe so. A life time ban would have fit nicely. I feel that way because of the absolute joke punishment that the NHL doled out. So pathetic. At the VERY LEAST 1 season suspension. I think Moore should have faced harsh penalties too. In regards to sports, not much worse than seeing a Star Player decline from a notable injury. Reminds me of Tomas Kaberle. I feel like the entire situation was unfortunate. Nobody was the same. What a waste.

Premeditated and cowardly cheap shot to the back of the head is way scummier than an elbow to the head. Moore tried to make an impact and came out looking like an idiot, the clear bad guy. Bertuzzi felt the need to out do him with some savagery.

 

[Bougieman]

It was one of the biggest suspensions in NHL history. Other players have done things just as bad and not come even close to that many games for a suspension. Bertuzzi did something way over the line, and he was punished for it.

The fact that half the players on the ice all came and jumped on a helpless Steve Moore after Bertuzzi clocked him is likely where the real physical damage was done to Moore, so if you're asking for a lifetime ban based on the injury rather than the infraction itself, you would be wise to keep that in mind.

 

[Bougieman]

Absolute nonsense. One was a legal hit in an actual hockey play, the other was pre-meditated assault after a game ended. Stop it.

After a game ended? That's not what happened at all. Also, many flagrant hits and elbows and other "assaults" are premeditated. They just didn't cause horrific injuries.

 

[tucker3434]

I’m kinda split on this one. I don’t feel one stupid act should merit a lifetime ban. At the same time, the result tends to be a huge part in punishments for most transgressions. You punch a guy in the face at a bar and all he gets is a fat lip, you probably just get thrown out. If he falls, hits his head, and dies, you’re getting manslaughter charges. It’s the same action and intent, just a different result.

I think if he had ended Sakic’s career rather than Steve Moore’s, the answer is an obvious yes. I think people tend to lean the other way because Moore was a career 4th liner.

 

[heynowbababooey]

I think Bertuzzi should've been allowed to play hockey as soon as Moore could play hockey. Then again, without playing how was Todd supposed to make the money to pay Moore?

 

[vladdy16]

What a completely bs discussion.

The incident absolutely did not happen in a vacuum.

Crawford and Milbury, and a whole generation of coaches and coaching philosophies(I.e abuse) contributed/lead to what happened.

I honestly find it morally reprehensible the fake high ground that is being constructed in this debate. It's ignorant, self congratulatory and counter productive to actual progress regarding player safety concerns.

 

[Butch 19]

Dale Hunter gave Pierre Turgeon a blinded elbow to the head WELL after the play was dead and Turgeon scored a goal. Should he be banned for life?

My point is the league is full of player who have done as bad or worse than Bertuzzi but we’re lucky the results weren’t as horrible. I can’t justify banning one player due to results when others commuting more dangerous and reckless actions get a pass.

Hunter actually said he didn't realize the puck had scored.

For his stupidity and blatant lying he should have been banned for life.

 

[Butch 19]

I'm sorry but I just don't see how one could think this is even remotely comparable to the Moore incident.

what? LOL? Both were cheap and hard unsuspecting shots to the back of the head. Yeah, they're "remotely" comparable, trust me on this one I guess...

And why do I think that if it was Byfulein had been sucker-punched by Perry that the announcers would have made a bigger deal about the hit.

 

[HenrikW]

Moore did a dirty open ice hit to the league's leading scorer. Naslund was never the same since then. Maybe due to natural decline, but you gotta wonder.

That did ofc not justify Bertuzzi's retribution, and yes, I think Bertuzzi should have been banned permanently. I am very sorry for how this disgusting revenge has affected Moore's life, and how it will in the future, maybe forever.

Steve Moore was a still a little shit for not stepping up to answer his dues though. If you do something like that you better prepare to fight in the next game. He didn't deserve to be assaulted in such a horrible manner, he sure deserved a beating though

 

[TeddyBare]

No
Ive seen WAYYYY WORSE
Chris Simon on that islanders guy
Mcsorely technically wasn't even banned for life.

 

[Retire91]

Something that happens in hockey more than people care to admit blew up because of the extent of the injury. The NHL realized that but to this day still, a lot of people don't. If you don't want to face the music don't headhunt other team's stars. I feel for Moore and his family on the extent of the injury. But his own actions set everything in motion.

 

[Todd from Leduc]

Bertuzzi barely hit him and it was his own players dog piling him and his own negligence to not do up his chin strap that caused the injury.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Bertuzzi barely hit him and it was his own players dog piling him and his own negligence to not do up his chin strap that caused the injury.

Interesting perspective.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Steve Moore was a still a little **** for not stepping up to answer his dues though. If you do something like that you better prepare to fight in the next game.

Ummm...Moore did fight.

Guaranteed your follow-up will be "yeah, but it wasn't enough".

 

[HenrikW]

Ummm...Moore did fight.

Guaranteed your follow-up will be "yeah, but it wasn't enough".

Have I missed this for years? Wow!

 

[Sgt Schultz]

Interesting perspective.

One an optometrist can probably be of some help with.

 

[CB Joe]

I'm on the fence about Bertuzzi getting a lifetime ban but I'm just glad he never got to hoist the cup.

 

[Telos]

The bottom line is that if it didn’t happen in a hockey rink it would have been criminal and Bertuzzi would have faced jail time and would have had to pay a lot more than he did.

Regardless, consequences can matter in court. A simple attack that yields a healable injury where the injured party walks away would result in more leniency to the attacker than if the victim was crippled for life and lost their income and livelihood.

Bertuzzi should have been easily banned for life. It was pre-meditated. It was purposeful. It did permanent damage. It was illegal in both the sport and in societal law.

Even more so than the response, the league should have never allowed it to get to that point.

 

[FOurteenS inCisOr]

Absolutely f***ing not. There’s been a number of incidents since then, some committed by repeat offenders, that have been punished less harshly.

People who believe this need to give their heads a shake.