Note to Bert: Light Up, or Leave Me Alone

I am, at best, a fair-weather Todd Bertuzzi fan.  When he's on fire I love the guy, but when he's struggling I want no part of him.  Maybe Steve Winwood and Traffic can help me put my emotions to words...

Hey Bert

Just when I was starting to get a read on this guy after posting two consistently inconsistent seasons with the Wings (a sporadic 45 points per season kinda guy), Ber-terd-zzi resurfaced in the first 14 games of this season with just one goal and three points.  Leave me alone. 

Then, inexplicably, Bert lights up for nine goals, 26 points, and a plus-19 rating in his following 29 games.  So now I like the guy.  I think.  For now at least.  With that hot streak he has the potential to skate to one of his best seasons ever...seriously.

With 10 goals and 25 points in 43 games Bert is having what looks like a rather modest statistical season that is on par for his short tenure in Detroit.  Check out his stats over his three seasons with the Wings:

Season       Games     Goals     Points     Rating

2009-10      82            18           44            -7 

2010-11      81            16           45            -7

2011-12      43            10           25           +22

The goal and point totals for this season look consistent, but take a look at that +22 plus/minus rating.  In 17 previous NHL seasons, Bertuzzi has only posted a positive rating in five, and his high watermark is +21.  This season's rating looks like a statistical anomaly, a grotesque aberration, a sixth toe on your ass if you will.  Take a look at his three best seasons, all with the 'Couver 'Nucks:

Season       Games     Goals     Points     Rating

2001-02     72             36           85            +21

2002-03     82             46           97            +2

2003-04     69             17           60            +21

From a pure point-production point of view, Bert's not even even close to his heyday and never will be again, but damn, that rating is really good.  Nicklas Lidstrom good.  In fact he is tied with Lids for third on the team and tenth overall in the league.  Even as a forward, if your +/- numbers are comparable with Lidstrom, than you are having a damn good season.

For the sake of argument let's say Bert continues at his prior pace and plays in, oh I don't know, 30 of the remaining 32 games on the schedule. His projected numbers for the full season might look something like this:

Season       Games     Goals     Points      Rating
2011-12     73             17           44            +37

Again, the goals and points would be about average for what he has previously done in Detroit, but a season +/- rating anywhere in the 30s would be astounding for Bert.  Berrrrrrt.  You're being very un-Bert.

Unlikely Linemates

Now, one must take into account the season the Wings are having and the resulting effect on Bert's numbers.  The Wings are good.  Duh.  They boast the best record in the NHL and rank second to the Bruins (+69) with a goal differential of +43.  Certainly that has something to do with it.

Plus he's been on the top scoring line with Dangle Dangle and the Mule, both of which have been on fire all season long.  But that should not be a knock on Bert.  He had to earn that spot and play to keep it. 

Credit must be given to where credit is due.  Bertuzzi has had a fantastic season thus far, one that could rank amongst his personal best.  He will certainly hit the 300 goal mark (currently sitting at 299), and I would not be surprised to see him reach the 50 point plateau this season and shatter his career-best plus/minus rating.  Certainly a season to remember for a man who has several to forget.

But then again, he is Bertuzzi.  I'm not placing any bets.  His hot and cold streaks are irritatingly inexplicable. 

Sometimes I feel like he's fading away.

When he can't score a goal, I've got nothing to say.

He makes me so angry with the game that he plays.

Either light up or leave me alone.

Peace. AWP