They’ve give him a suspension for the rest of the season, and the rest of his salary (nearly 502k USD) will be paid to the NHL Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

I think this is fair based on what happened, and how the tragic outcome (Moore’s fractured neck) was really just bad luck and not the initial intent. Also, Bertuzzi punched him, he didn’t hit him with his stick.

That said, I would have also liked to have seen the league encourage Bertuzzi to seek professional help with his anger problems. I see it in most games. Canucks GM Burke defended Bertuzzi, calling him an “excellent human being”. Which, when you don’t piss him off, I see as probably being true.

But he’s cost the Canucks more power plays in retaliation than anyone that I can think of. Any time he’d be sent to the penalty box, he’d be complaining the whole way there, even if his penalty was deliberate and obvious. Class acts like Trevor Linden, on the other hand, shrug and do their time when it’s obvious that they did wrong. I honestly think referees respect that more, and might actually listen when Trev complains about a call because they know he’s not just set on auto-whine like Bertuzzi.

I hope Todd takes this time to recognize that his anger can be focussed on playing the game rather than lashing out, physically or verbally. Big hits are great, and I truly believe and appreciate the physicality and occasional violence of hockey.

But that sucker punch was wrong, and the sign of a bigger problem.

Get help, Todd.