Todd Bertuzzi is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 18 seasons. He was born on February 2, 1975, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Bertuzzi began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm in 1992. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
Bertuzzi made his NHL debut with the Islanders in the 1995-96 season. He played with the Islanders for two seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1998. Bertuzzi played with the Canucks for seven seasons and was a key player on the team. He was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. Bertuzzi had his best season with the Canucks in 2002-03 when he scored 46 goals and had 51 assists.
In 2006, Bertuzzi was traded to the Florida Panthers. He played with the Panthers for one season before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2007. Bertuzzi played with the Red Wings for three seasons and was a valuable player on the team. He helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2008.
Bertuzzi returned to the Canucks in 2009 and played with the team for two seasons. He then played with the Anaheim Ducks for one season before returning to the Red Wings in 2011. Bertuzzi played with the Red Wings for two more seasons before retiring from the NHL in 2014.
Throughout his career, Bertuzzi was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He was a four-time NHL All-Star and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2003. Bertuzzi scored a total of 770 points in 1,159 NHL games.
Bertuzzi's career was not without controversy. In 2004, he was involved in an on-ice incident with Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzi punched Moore from behind, causing him to fall to the ice and suffer a serious neck injury. Moore was forced to retire from hockey due to the injury. Bertuzzi was suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs, and he faced criminal charges in Canada. He eventually pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to probation and community service.
Despite the incident, Bertuzzi continued to play in the NHL for several more seasons. He was a respected player and a fan favorite in many cities. After retiring from the NHL, Bertuzzi remained involved in hockey as a coach and mentor to young players. He also worked as a television analyst for the NHL.
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