The Flames needed a veteran winger.

They needed to add a player with size and a scoring touch, especially after Owen Nolan signed with the Minnesota Wild.

Still, the biggest shocker of the summer among the Flames took place with the addition of Todd Bertuzzi via free agency.

Over the past few years, no visiting player has been treated by the fans with as much derision as Bertuzzi. Even before his infamous incident with then Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore -- a sucker punch from behind in apparent retaliation for a perceived cheap shot on Markus Naslund which escalated into a broken neck for Moore and all kinds of litigation -- the faithful in Calgary have lustily booed Bertuzzi every time he touched the puck.

Now, those fans will be forced to cheer him, or at least his team.

As a purely hockey move, Bertuzzi's addition makes sense. His $1.95 million, one-year contract fits into Calgary's salary structure.

He was also recruited and promoted by Flames captain Jarome Iginla.

Nobody can expect Bertuzzi to put up numbers like he did in his hey day -- 46 goals, 97 points in 2002-03 -- but around 20 goals and 50 points would be a big plus if he plays in a second-line role.

However, if he continues to flounder as he has since that incident, it will for sure be a one-year relationship.

Then the fans can go back to disliking Bertuzzi again.

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