Todd Bertuzzi vs. Steve Moore: After 10 years, it’s finally over

The two sides were scheduled to begin a long, ugly trial on Sept. 8 -- a trial that all parties are apparently happy to avoid. The NHL certainly didn’t want this matter playing out in court again either, and will be pleased to put it behind the league and the game. Moore, in his own words, said the same, and Bertuzzi, currently an NHL free agent looking for a job, is probably more relieved than anybody that it’s over.

Details of the settlement were not released and likely will never be publicly known. Moore was asking for $68 million from Bertuzzi in the civil suit, filed in Ontario Superior Court.

It may have been a premature announcement and they still might be close on a deal, but it could be something more sinister: an attempt by Bertuzzi’s camp to put pressure on Moore to reach a settlement sooner than later. That’s what Moore’s camp says is going on.

Bertuzzi has the fear that if a lengthy, ugly trial is hanging over his head, he won’t be approached by a team for a contract. That’s probably a fair concern on his part for a number of reasons: If he’s going to be in court for several months right at the start of the 2014-15 season, why would a team sign him? It’s also going to be nothing but bad press for the team that signs him, and for a 39-year-old forward who scored just 16 points last year, it’s just not worth it. Not with a trial lingering.