The fall-out from the event has contributed to a growing effort to curb gratuitous violence in hockey, and professional sports in general.
No penalty was called in connection with the hit, but Näslund suffered a concussion and a bone chip in his elbow as a result, and missed three games.
Canucks head coach Marc Crawford and general manager Brian Burke publicly criticized the non-call by the referees on the incident.
In the first period, Moore fought Vancouver player Matt Cooke in a fairly even brawl, and served the 5-minute penalty for fighting.
Rendered unconscious from the hit and pushed by Bertuzzi's weight and momentum, Moore fell head first into the ice.
[2] Bertuzzi was assessed a match penalty for his actions, which carries an automatic indefinite suspension under NHL rules.
On March 11, 2004, the NHL announced Bertuzzi would remain suspended for at least the remainder of the Canucks' season, including any playoff games.
Also named were Brad May (who was quoted as saying that there would "definitely be a bounty on Moore's head" after the game), Brian Burke and the Canucks organization.
[4] In the league's decision, they cited many reasons for ending the suspension, such as: On August 12, 2005, Brian Burke, formerly Vancouver's general manager who was now serving in the same capacity with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, had made an offer to Moore.
It was a two-way contract that would have paid Moore $475,000 US in the NHL and $75,000 if the player suited up for Portland, the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate.
[3] He continued working out for some years afterward, but had to abandon his comeback attempt when it became apparent he would never be medically cleared to return to the ice again.
In July 2012, former Avalanche enforcer Scott Parker, who had been a teammate of Moore's very briefly the season prior to the Bertuzzi incident in 2004, made some controversial comments.
[12] In response, Crawford later stated that Bertuzzi acted in "direct disobedience" to orders from the bench to get off the ice before attacking Moore.