Todd Bertuzzi
Canadian power forward known for the Steve Moore incident.
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played as a power forward. Over his NHL career, he suited up for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and Detroit Red Wings. He is most remembered for his involvement in a notorious incident with Steve Moore, which led to suspensions from both the NHL and IIHF, as well as criminal charges.
Born on February 2, 1975, Bertuzzi was selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL entry draft after playing four seasons of junior hockey with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He made his NHL debut with the Islanders in the 1995–96 season. After several years with the Islanders, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he enjoyed the most productive stretch of his career, earning NHL first-team All-Star honors in 2003. In 2006, Vancouver traded him to the Florida Panthers, and he was soon moved again to the Detroit Red Wings. He later played single seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames before returning to Detroit in 2009 and finishing his career there. Internationally, Bertuzzi represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and at the 1998 and 2000 World Championships.
He is the uncle of current NHL player Tyler Bertuzzi. On April 7, 2025, Bertuzzi was named head coach of the Cambridge Redhawks of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
During his junior career with the Guelph Storm (1991–1995), Bertuzzi was selected fifth overall in the 1991 OHL Priority Selection. His future Canucks coach, Marc Crawford, had passed on drafting him while with the Cornwall Royals, citing maturity issues and noting Bertuzzi was a big kid who hadn’t yet grown into his body. In his rookie OHL season (1991–92), Bertuzzi recorded 21 points in 42 games but missed the final 15 games due to a suspension for kicking an opposing defenseman. He improved to 58 points in 60 games the next season, leading to his NHL draft selection. After the draft, he had surgery for chipped bones in his left elbow and missed the Islanders’ training camp, returning to Guelph. In his third season, he posted 28 goals and 82 points in 61 games. He again tried for an Islanders roster spot in 1994 but was sent back after going scoreless in three exhibition games.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1975-02-02
- Birth Place
- Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 3
- Weight Lb
- 246
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- New York Islanders / Vancouver Canucks / Florida Panthers / Detroit Red Wings / Anaheim Ducks / Calgary Flames
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 23rd overall
- Draft Year
- 1993
- Draft Team
- New York Islanders
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bertuzzi played junior hockey with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for four seasons, setting a single-season team record of 54 goals in 1994–95. He was selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut in 1995–96. After seasons with the Islanders, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in February 1998 along with Bryan McCabe and a draft pick for Trevor Linden.
With the Canucks, Bertuzzi enjoyed the most successful seasons of his career, including NHL first team All-Star honours in 2003. He recorded his first career NHL hat trick on December 30, 2000, against the San Jose Sharks. He was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2006, then to the Detroit Red Wings, and later played single seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames before returning to Detroit in 2009 and finishing his career there.
Bertuzzi is the uncle of Tyler Bertuzzi, who plays in the NHL. On April 7, 2025, he was announced as the head coach of the Cambridge Redhawks of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Reader's Guide
Todd Bertuzzi's NHL career spanned over a decade and included stops with six teams, but he is most associated with the Vancouver Canucks, where he achieved his peak performance and earned NHL first team All-Star honours in 2003. His playing style as a power forward was characterized by physicality and offensive effectiveness near the net, drawing comparisons to former Islander Clark Gillies. Despite his on-ice success, Bertuzzi is widely known for his role in an infamous incident with Steve Moore, which resulted in suspensions from the NHL and IIHF, as well as criminal charges. This incident has overshadowed much of his playing career in public memory. After retiring as a player, Bertuzzi moved into coaching, being named head coach of the Cambridge Redhawks in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2025. His legacy is thus a complex one, combining significant NHL achievements with a notorious event that had lasting repercussions for the sport.
Did You Know?
- He set a Guelph Storm single-season record with 54 goals in 1994–95.
- He is the uncle of NHL player Tyler Bertuzzi.
- On April 7, 2025, he was announced as head coach of the Cambridge Redhawks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Todd Bertuzzi?
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger born on February 2, 1975, who played as a power forward in the NHL. He was originally selected 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL entry draft after four seasons with the Guelph Storm in junior hockey.
What role did Todd Bertuzzi fill for the Anaheim Ducks?
Bertuzzi suited up for the Ducks as a power forward, contributing physical play and size to their forward group. His time in Anaheim was one stop among six NHL franchises he played for, which also included the Islanders, Canucks, Panthers, Flames, and Red Wings.
What is Todd Bertuzzi most famous for?
He is widely remembered for the 2004 on-ice confrontation in which he struck Vancouver Canucks center Steve Moore, an event that drew enormous public attention. The incident led to suspensions from both the NHL and the IIHF, as well as criminal charges being filed against him.
What happened to Todd Bertuzzi's career after the Steve Moore incident?
The 2004 incident resulted in suspensions from multiple hockey governing bodies and a criminal prosecution that significantly disrupted his playing schedule. He continued to appear for the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings before eventually hanging up his skates.
Did Todd Bertuzzi represent Canada on the international stage?
Yes, Bertuzzi played for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics as well as the 1998 and 2000 World Championships. His international career spanned several years alongside his NHL obligations.
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