Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi (born February 2, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Known as a power forward, he has played in the NHL for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings.

He is widely known for his role in the Todd Bertuzzi–Steve Moore incident, for which he was suspended by the NHL and IIHF, and criminally charged.

After playing for two minor hockey teams based out of Sudbury, Ontario in 1990–91, Bertuzzi was selected in the first round (fifth overall) by the Guelph Storm in the 1991 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.

His future coach with the Vancouver Canucks, Marc Crawford, passed on Bertuzzi during the draft while he was general manager of the Cornwall Royals; he has recalled not selecting him due to "maturity issues" and that he was "a big kid who hadn't grown into his body yet."

Bertuzzi started his OHL career for Guelph in 1991–92, recording 21 points over 42 games as a rookie.

He missed the last 15 games of the regular season due to suspension as a result of kicking opposing defenceman Brad Barton during a contest between the Storm and Kitchener Rangers.

After improving to 58 points over 60 games in 1992–93, he was selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau described Bertuzzi as a physical and strong player with good skating who checks hard and is offensively effective in close proximity to the net.

Selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, he played at the junior level with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for four seasons.

Following his NHL draft, he underwent surgery for chipped bones in his left elbow in August 1993.

As a result, he was unable to participate in the Islanders' training camp in September and was returned to the OHL.

Playing in his third season for Guelph, he improved to 28 goals and 82 points over 61 games.

Bertuzzi competed for an Islanders' roster spot at their 1994 training camp, but was sent back to his junior team after going scoreless in three exhibition games.

During his last campaign with Guelph in 1994–95, he recorded 119 points – sixth overall in the league.

His 54 goals established a single-season team record, beating Mike Prokopec's mark, set the previous year, by two goals.

The Storm's forward tandem of Bertuzzi and Jeff O'Neill, who finished fourth in league scoring, led the club to the best regular season record in the league.

He went on to add a team-leading 33 points in 14 playoff games, en route to an OHL Finals loss to the Detroit Junior Red Wings.

After four seasons with Guelph, he left the club ranked third all-time in career points with 280, behind O'Neill and Martin St. Pierre.

Two years after his draft, Bertuzzi and the Islanders had not yet agreed to a contract.

In 1995–96, he played his rookie season with the Islanders.

After 2 1⁄2 seasons with the Islanders, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

With Bertuzzi eligible to re-enter the draft if the Islanders did not sign him by July 7, 1995, general manager Don Maloney made it apparent that he would use the team's second overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft to select him again if a contract could not be agreed upon by the required date.

Moments before the midnight deadline, the Islanders were able to sign Bertuzzi to a four-year, US$4.6 million contract.

His agent, Pat Morris, had reportedly wanted a similar deal to that of fellow Islanders prospect Brett Lindros – a five-year, $6.7 million contract signed the previous summer.

During training camp in September 1995, Islanders head coach Mike Milbury heralded Bertuzzi as the team's best performing forward.

Making his NHL debut on October 7, 1995, he scored a wrap around goal against goaltender Blaine Lacher in a 4–4 tie with the Boston Bruins.

Beginning the season on the team's top line with Žigmund Pálffy and Travis Green, Bertuzzi finished his rookie year with 18 goals and 39 points over 76 games.

The following season, Bertuzzi recorded 23 points in 64 games.

The Islanders did not qualify for the playoffs in either of his two full seasons with the club, ranking second-last in the Eastern Conference in 1995–96 and 1996–97.

Bertuzzi's playing style as a power forward resulted in comparisons to former Islander Clark Gillies.

As a result, the club hired Gillies to personally mentor Bertuzzi.

Failing to meet lofty expectations from the club, Gillies once said of Bertuzzi, "If you're built like a freight train, you can't drive around like a Volkswagen."

Feeling burdened with the pressure of playing up to the club's expectations while his offensive production diminished, he requested to be traded away at one point during the 1996–97 season.

In response, Milbury, who had also taken over general manager duties the previous season, demoted Bertuzzi to the Islanders' minor league affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League (IHL).

Bertuzzi enjoyed the most successful seasons of his career with the Canucks—his longest tenured team in the NHL—including NHL first team All-Star honours in 2003.

In 2006, after 7 1⁄2 seasons with Vancouver, Bertuzzi was dealt to the Florida Panthers, for whom he briefly played until being traded again, this time to the Red Wings.

Internationally, Bertuzzi has competed for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, as well as the 1998 and 2000 World Championships.

He is the uncle of Tyler Bertuzzi, who plays in the NHL.

He then played single seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames before returning to Detroit in 2009 and finishing his career there.