The National Hockey League has reinstated Todd Bertuzzi, 17 months after he brutally attacked Steve Moore saying the Vancouver Canuck forward has suffered enough.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Bertuzzi is "immediately eligible" to play hockey.

In a 4,500-word ruling Bettman said he believed that Bertuzzi "is genuinely remorseful and apologetic for his actions ... and the consequences that have flowed from such actions.''

In March of 2004, with the Colorado Avalanche ahead 8-2 in the game, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore from behind, punched him on the side of his head and then landed on top of Moore, driving his head into the ice. Moore was removed from the ice on a stretcher.

Following the incident in March 2004, the league suspended Bertuzzi indefinitely. He sat out the rest of the regular season and all of the post-season. He wasn't allowed to play in the World Cup of Hockey last September, or the past two world championships.

Bertuzzi's suspension also meant he would have sat out the 2004-05 season -- had there been one. And he was barred from playing in any European league last season.

On April 26, Bertuzzi and Moore met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for a reinstatement hearing. Bertuzzi needed Bettman's approval to be reinstated.

"I find that the appropriate discipline to be imposed for Mr. Bertuzzi's conduct on March 8, 2004 is the suspension that has been served to date," Bettman said in a statement.

The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 in salary. He is due to earn $5,269,333 from the Canucks in the upcoming season.

"After listening to Mr. Bertuzzi and his wife Julie Bertuzzi, I have no doubt that this period of indefinite suspension has been mark by uncertainty, anxiety, stress and emotional pain for the Bertuzzi family,'' Bettman said.

Steve Moore's lawyer Tim Danson says Bertuzzi's punishment should have been greater and that his client is not happy with the decision.

"He is quite disappointed, given he is unable to resume his NHL career and may never resume his NHL career," Danson said in an interview.

"It's disappointing to him that Mr. Bertuzzi is able to resume his career at this particular time. Steve has an uncertain future. He's got health challenges to deal with.

"There should be some proportionality between the injuries that Steve Moore has suffered and Mr. Bertuzzi's reinstatement."

Moore might never play again. He suffered a concussion as well as a fractured neck in the on-ice incident. He is an unrestricted free agent after not being re-signed by the Avalanche.

"While he maintains a very positive attitude . . . at this point he really is in the hands of doctors who will have to make the determination whether or not he will be able to play again,'' Danson said.

Bertuzzi is not completely off the hook. He will be "on probation" for the 2005-06 season.

"Mr. Bertuzzi is on notice that he will be held strictly accountable to a higher standard than other NHL players for his on-ice conduct during the 2005-06 season,'' Bettman explained.

And as per the conditions of his probation, Bertuzzi will not be allowed to play hockey or engage "in any other sporting activity involving Mr. Moore as a participant.''

Vancouver Canuck General Manager Dave Donis said Bertuzzi is very relieved by the decision.

"It's a decision he hoped he would receive and I think he's going to have a very good rest of the week.''

In December, Bertuzzi pled guilty in a Vancouver court to criminal assault and was given a conditional discharge. He was sentenced to a year's probation and 80 hours of community service.

Prior to the announcement by the NHL, Moore underwent a comprehensive medical evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic in June. A follow-up examine is being conducted this week.

The results of that examination won't be known until at least the end of the month.