Just wondering if anyone else saw this hit in last night's (Monday's) game and whether or not you think he should be banned from the league or just a big fine.

For those of you that want the info here you go. An Avs player by the name of Steve Moore made a questionable open ice hit (some would say it was just a meaningless collision) with the top scorer from the Canucks, Marcus Naslund, in their game over 3 weeks ago. This kept Naslund out for about 2 weeks. Canucks fans were livid and wanted revenge. When the two teams met in Colorado last week, no real big fights or unusual hits occured. When the teams met on Monday night, a little bit more happened. After the Avs tallied 9 goals to the measley 2 the Canucks got, Canuck Todd Bertuzzi decided it was time to make an impact. He skated up behind Moore in the open ice, dropped his stick, and cold-cocked him in the back of the head. After he did this, he fell on Moore, causing Moore's head to be driven into the ice by the two players' weight and snapped Moore's neck and upper back. Bertuzzi continued to punch as Moore lay motionless. Another Avs player did jump on top of the two players to get Bertuzzi off. Moore layed unconscious and in a pool of blood as the trainers went out to put him on a stretcher. Moore will undoubtedly miss the rest of the season, and Bertuzzi's fate will be decided tomorrow.

Read the full story here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1754963

A large fine will occur due to a severe suspension (15-30 Games). There is no way the NHL would ban a player for this kind of act. This has taken place before with McSorely (hit Brashear in the head with a baseball like swing) a few years ago, I think that incident was way more outrageous! A star player sticking up for his teammates is not wrong, just that he took it a little overboard. The 15-30 Game suspension will make sure this magnitude of an incident does not happen again, but with the playoffs coming up I hope physical activity is not taken away.

STL Blues #8 In West ------ Please make the Playoffs
So we can knock off the Red Wings

Here is the clip: http://members.rogers.com/ryan.macdonald/moorehurt.mpeg
Also shared here: \\a-sluice-box

I'm not sure what exactly I think should be the punishment. I mean I love hockey and am all for violence...which is one of the reasons I was attracted to this sport. But Bertuzzi just went way too far. I know teams have rivalries and such, which makes games more interesting and entertaining to watch, but not like that. I mean the beating even after he lay motionless is uncalled for...I think that's the main reason why I'm not sure which punishment should occur...of course tomorrow (today) I'll find out...

Bertuzzi should have to miss the rest of the season including the playoffs. Hell, that's exactly what he intentionally caused the guy to do.

An eye for an eye.

That McSorley-Brashear incident a couple years ago pretty much ended McSorley's career since he was suspended for a year for the incident. I also don't believe that Brashear had his neck broken. That incident looked a lot worse, but the result doesn't compare.

Bertuzzi had it coming anyway. It was just a matter of time before he did something stupid and really f***** up. He'd already taken out MacInnis in last years playoff, Jackman this year, and many others with a bunch of cheap shots. Some would say the same about Scott Stevens but there is one major difference. If you watch Stevens closely on hits like that, if he sees that they aren't looking, he will let up a bit. (still run em the f*** over but let up none the less). Bertuzzi just runs with a full head of steam and bowls over people half his size (jackman & macinnis & now more.) I really hope he gets at least a year and the police charg him with first degree assault.

This is Hockey Bertuzzi hit on Jackman was clean behind the net nothing wrong with physical hockey.

that's fucking ridiculous. he punched someone from behind, that's the most pussy thing you can do. if they do let him play ever again, he should have to play in a fucking tutu and pink figure skater skates. even if he didn't really hurt the guy, he should be banned for being a complete faggot. at least grab the fucker, turn him around, THEN punch him in the face. god damn, what a sissy.

not to mention, he punched him in the god damn EAR from BEHIND! jesus, if i was the other avalanche player, i would have stepped on bertuzzi's throat with my skate.

You forgot to mention broken neck as well.

I was actually going to bring this up if nobody else did, but I figured snocat would since he's the resident Avalance fan.

My vote is that Bertuzzi get the full wrath of our American legal system. Ban him from the NHL, and have him get charged with assault and battery. There's nothing wrong with "a little violence in the NHL," hell that's what makes half of watching it fun. But there's a HUGE difference between giving someone a hard body check into the boards, or even getting a five-minute major for fighting, and fucking sucker punching someone in the head from behind, falling on them, and then beating their head into the ice to give them a broken neck.

Bertuzzi has had this shit coming for a LONG time, everyone knew it. I'm just saddened that he had to almost kill another hockey player out on the ice in order for the NHL officials to realize he doesn't belong in the NHL.

Also, I found a set of clips from the Canucks Press Conference where they discuss the Bertuzzi issue.

http://www.vancouvercanucks.com/theinsi ... =5&id=1070

Bertuzzi is a goon and it is my personal opinion that he should be banned for at least a year. I personally think looks worse than the McSorley incident, at least McSorley didn't fall on the guy. I also think its pretty cool in the replays you can see an Ave player smoke Ber-Suck-My-Nut in the face with his glove still on.

The hit is the worst I have ever seen in my decade of watching hockey, but the real shocker is the crowd reaction in the backround. There are numerous amounts of fans that jump up and start cheering. That to me is the real shocker, because I knew the Bertuzzi hit was coming sometime or another. When I looked for reactions on the Avalanche and Canucks' Forums, most of the Canuck fans claimed that either Bertuzzi did nothing wrong besides the punch (but they say that was justified because of Moore's hit earlier in the year) or that it is Moore's fault for not turning around when Bertuzzi grapped his jersey. Even one guy claims that Bertuzzi tripped on his stick after dropping it, causing him to fall on Moore (which to me is absolute ludiocraty). I just hope the league and the law see this as a premeditated act that had no major cause other than revenge. Bertuzzi may not be banned, but I would be embarassed if I ever rooted for him or was affiliated in any way with him. That is the cheapest thing I think I have ever seen in any professional sport.

Luckily Moore will not be paralized and may even be back in the lineup for opening day next fall. He had full use of his limbs as they took him to the hospital. He will miss the rest of the seasons for surgery and therapy, but should be fine by the time the 2004-2005 season, which is good news for all of hockey. The teammates and management of the Canucks say Bertuzzi is remorseful and didn't mean to brake his neck, and that he is glad Moore is okay. Bertuzzi has not yet said anything to the media yet, so I don't know if this is true.

if this was not in a heated hockey match, but out on the street... what would his punishment be? Take it out of the realm of sports into the reality of everyday light... A crime is a crime, no matter where it happens. I'm not saying he shouldn't be suspended or whatever, but it is something to consider.

Fuck Bertuzzi. Hockey is rough, yes, but the idea of checking is to remove the opportunity for the opposing player to make a play. 95% of the hits Bertuzzi makes (including MacInnis and Jackman), he intends to injure the other player and IMO he could be called for charging on half the hits he makes.

Also IMO, the injury Naslund had as a result of the Moore hit was just unfortunate due to the way they hit, not due to any ill intent on Moore's part. I'm not just sticking up for the Avs either because I really can't stand them.

/let's go Blues!