NEW YORK (CP) - The NHL has deferred its decision on when Todd Bertuzzi's suspension might be lifted but Steve Moore made it clear Tuesday he thinks the Vancouver Canuck forward hasn't been punished enough.
Bertuzzi met with league officials seeking reinstatement from his indefinite suspension for his March 2004 on-ice attack on Moore, who was then a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Moore is currently a free agent and hasn't fully recovered from his injuries.
"We conducted a hearing today on Todd Bertuzzi's request for reinstatement to eligible playing status in the National Hockey League," Bill Daly, the NHL's executive vice-president and chief legal officer, said in a statement.
"All interested parties, including Mr. Bertuzzi, Mr. Moore, the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL Players' Association, had a full and fair opportunity to participate in the hearing and to offer relevant evidence and testimony. At the conclusion of the hearing, commissioner (Gary) Bettman took the matter under advisement. There is no immediate timetable for a decision."
Moore didn't comment about the hearing to the media. But his lawyer Tim Danson said they told the hearing it's too early to reinstate Bertuzzi.
"We made it clear that unfortunately Steve is not where he would like to be medically," Danson said.
"We have some serious obstacles ahead and, as a consequence, it's our view that reinstatement would be premature."
Bertuzzi and his agent Pat Morris eluded the media. Morris did not immediately return telephone calls.
Both Moore and Bertuzzi were in the NHL headquarters at the same time but did not come face-to-face.
The hearing lasted for over seven hours. Moore's side spent about five hours meeting with league officials.
In Denver, Michael O'Donnell, a lawyer representing the Canucks, has gone to court attempting to have a civil suit Moore has filed against Bertuzzi and the Canucks dismissed.
O'Donnell argued the suit should be dismissed because the actual incident occurred in Vancouver. He also said many of the witnesses and exhibits for the case reside in Canada, and so the case could be moved to Vancouver.
In New York, two doctors attended the hearing along with Colin Campbell, the NHL's chief disciplinarian.
Danson called the hearing "very serious" and said Moore was treated fairly.
"We've had an opportunity to express, as has Steve, directly to the commissioner the impact this has had on him because we think Steve's recovery and rehabilitation is a very important factor in the commissioner's consideration."
Bertuzzi was handed an indefinite suspension for his March 8, 2004, attack on Moore. He missed the final 13 regular-season games and Vancouver's seven-game first-round playoff loss to Calgary.
The suspension also meant Bertuzzi was not selected to Canada's team for the IIHF world championships that start Saturday in Austria and didn't play in last fall's World Cup of Hockey.
Add in the NHL lockout and Bertuzzi's hockey has been limited to the occasional charity game in recent months.
Moore, now a free agent without a club, sustained a broken neck, cuts and a concussion in the incident. Danson said his client's health remains "pretty distressing medically" and he still suffers from post-concussion syndrome which prevents him from doing any sort of exercise.
In his civil suit Moore names Bertuzzi, Canucks forward Brad May, Canucks coach Marc Crawford, former GM Brian Burke and Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Canucks.
The incident occurred in the third period of a game which the Avalanche were leading 8-2.
There was bad blood between the two teams. In a previous encounter, Moore had knocked Canucks captain Markus Naslund out of the game. The Avs rookie was not penalized for the hit.
Bertuzzi charged up the ice, grabbed Moore's sweater from behind, then slugged him with a roundhouse punch. The two players fell, with the much larger Bertuzzi landing on top of the already limp Moore, driving his head into the ice.
Other players jumped into the melee while Moore lay motionless, a pool of blood forming around him. Moore was put on a stretcher, taken off the ice and taken to hospital.
The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 US of his $6.8-million salary last season. The Canucks were also fined $250,000.
In December, Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and received a conditional discharge. The sentence carries the chance of no criminal record.
He was also sentenced to a year's probation and 80 hours of community service. If he complies with his community service and probation requirements, he will not have a criminal record.