Detroit Signs Todd Bertuzzi
August 21, 2009 by Dennis Bovell
Filed under NHL
DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Red Wings refuse to concede that they will be rebuilding next season.Detroit signed Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Tuesday in the hopes that the veteran forward can help make up for some of the Red Wings’ significant losses.
After falling one win short of repeating as Stanley Cup champions in June, the Red Wings watched watch as forwards Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky signed with other teams.
“We lost almost 90 goals,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “I read or hear people picking us to be about fourth in the Western Conference.
“Even though a lot of teams have gotten better, I still think we’re a Stanley Cup contender because our defense is as good as anyone’s defense and I like the rest of our team.”
The 34-year-old Bertuzzi scored 15 goals and had 44 points last season, ranking sixth in both categories for the Calgary Flames . He played in an average of 67 games the past two seasons after a back injury stunted his career.