Detroit – Todd Bertuzzi was on the Joe Louis Arena ice for practice Saturday, but he won’t be on it today when the Avalanche plays his new team, the Detroit Red Wings.
The former Vancouver Canucks winger, who pleaded guilty to assault against former Avalanche forward Steve Moore in 2004 and remains a defendant in a pending civil suit, is probably two to three weeks away from playing for the Wings.
His presence no doubt would have added intrigue to the nationally televised game in Detroit, a game in which the Avs hope to have a much better showing than the last time in the spotlight.
In a game captain Joe Sakic called “one of the worst we’ve ever played,” the Red Wings outshot Colorado 41-12 in a 3-1 victory in Detroit Jan. 28. The Avs enter today’s contest on a two-game win streak – still carrying faint hopes of a playoff spot – but those wins came against also-rans Columbus and Chicago.
Detroit figures to be a bit tougher, even without Bertuzzi – acquired last week from Florida – and young star Henrik Zetterberg. Both players have back ailments. Goalie Dominik Hasek, who has what’s vaguely been termed tightness in his thigh, also will not play.
“We’ve got some tough games yet to come on this trip,” Avalanche coach Joel Quenne- ville said. “But I like how we’ve been competing this whole stretch. We’ve had some real, real tough losses. The teams ahead of us don’t seem to be giving up any ground, either. It can be a little discouraging, but I still think that we’re hanging in here and controlling what we can control.”
Bertuzzi, who has played only seven games this season because of back surgery, is a gamble the Wings felt is worth it. Detroit general manager Ken Holland only gave up defensive prospect Shawn Matthias and a conditional draft pick for Bertuzzi, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
One of the many ironies of Bertuzzi going to Detroit is he is now much nearer to Moore’s family in Windsor, Ontario. Bertuzzi was asked a flurry of questions about the lingering situation upon his arrival.
“(It was) three years ago,” Bertuzzi told Detroit reporters. “The only people who talk about it and discuss it is usually media and all that. You know, I gotta respect that you guys have a job to do and I understand it.”
Asked if he thinks about the incident often, Bertuzzi said, “No, no. There’s a lot of guys that live in glass houses, too.”
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
