Robert Bortuzzo was traded to the New York Islanders by the St. Louis Blues on Friday for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The defenseman has sat out 21 of the Blues’ 25 games this season and hasn’t scored a single point as St. Louis places an increased role on young defensemen. Tyler Tucker23, and Scott Perunovich25. Bortuzzo hasn’t played since November 18.
“I felt like I did enough to stay ready all year and I did a little bit coming out of the lineup throughout my career,” Bortuzzo said Saturday. “Again, I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited for this opportunity. I know nothing is really given to you in this league, you have to compete, and I’ve had to do it my whole career for a spot, and I look at it from the same angle.”
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round (78th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft, the 34-year-old has 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) and is plus-41 in 537 regular season games. in 13 NHL games. seasons with the Penguins and Blues. He has four points (two goals, two assists) in 55 Stanley Cup Playoff games and won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019.
Bortuzzo played 10 seasons with the Blues and is one of 16 players in their history to have spent at least that many seasons with them. He had 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists) in 424 regular season games and three points (two goals, one assist) in 47 playoff games for St. Louis after being traded from Pittsburgh on March 2, 2015.
“Robert and I had been talking over the last month or so,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told Bally Sports Midwest on Friday, “and he really wanted to get back on the ice and he wants to play again next year. And he knew that he had to join a (new) team to get on the ice. … Where we are right now, we talked with him over the summer about the fact that we have Tucker, we have Perunovich , we have younger players that we have to watch play.
“…He’s a real gentleman off the ice and a person of great character, so that (trade) actually wasn’t too (difficult to pull off) because I think it’s obviously something that he wanted and that gives him an excellent opportunity.”
Defender placed by New York Ryan Pulock on injured reserve Friday due to a lower-body injury suffered Thursday in a 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets and is also without defensemen Adam Pelech (upper body, long-term IR) and Sébastien Aho (upper body, IR).
Bortuzzo will make his Islanders debut when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSW).
“You never want to see guys go down, but there are opportunities, and I’m excited to try to contribute and hopefully do good things here with a good group that’s looking to do special things,” said Bortuzzo.
“I’m just excited to join a group that’s had a lot of success over the years, that’s in win-now mode. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this locker room and the guys, and I’m really delighted to be here.”
The Islanders (11-7-7) are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Blues (13-12-1) are sixth in the Central Division and lost 5-2 to the Blue Jackets on Friday.
NHL.com freelance correspondent Stefen Rosner contributed to this report.
