The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenceman Robert Bortuzzo to a two-year extension. The contract, which carries him through the 2024 season, will pay Bortuzzo $950,000 per year.
DONE DEAL! We’ve signed Robert Bortuzzo to a two-year contract extension. https://t.co/tVKdPpP626 #stlblues
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 8, 2022
Robert Bortuzzo Signs New Deal
Drafted in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the 32-year-old defenceman is currently playing his eighth season with the Blues and 12th season overall in the NHL. In that time, Bortuzzo has recorded 18 goals, 48 assists, and 448 penalty minutes in 454 games. He has been a depth player that is known more for his physicality than his scoring abilities.
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Averaging 14:08 minutes per game throughout 37 games played this season, the Blues have been deploying the veteran in a bottom pair role. Not relied on for his scoring prowess, 3 points this season, the 6’4”, 216 lb defender provides physicality, ranking 4th on the blues in hits with 69. More importantly, he’s a physical defenseman who also manages to provide a positive on-ice impact:
Robert Bortuzzo (2×0.95m extension with STL) is a strong play-driving defender, hasn’t ever been played above the third pair and maybe should be a little. pic.twitter.com/wCCaBdKq2A
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) February 8, 2022
This is a nice depth deal for the Blues, assuming Bortuzzo can maintain this on-ice impact into 2024.
One More Year for Brown
The Blues also extended prospect forward Logan Brown to a one-year deal at $750,000. The former 2016 first-round pick has appeared in 17 of the Blues’ 44 games this season scoring 3 goals and 3 assists.
Acquired in exchange for forward Zach Sanford in September, the Blues were hoping that Brown would find the scoring touch that the Senators saw when they drafted him 11th overall, but that has yet to come to fruition. Signed to a league-minimum salary, Brown will have at least one more season to prove that he belongs in the NHL. The Blues currently sit at fourth in the central division. They also hold the first wildcard spot in the western conference.
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