Utah Hockey Club sign rugged 6-foot-4 Stanley Cup Champion

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Daniel Lucente
August 31, 2024  (4:19 PM)

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Photo credit: TBNewsWatch.com

A big Stanley Cup winning defenseman is heading Utah's way, as the team has just signed Robert Bortuzzo to a new contract.

It's been an eventful offseason for Utah as they prepare for year one in their new home. With training camp just on the horizon, they've added some experience to their blue line with the signing of defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a one-year deal, per former NHL winger turned broadcaster Scottie Upshall. PuckPedia adds it's a two-way contract that pays $775,000 in the NHL and $450,000 in the minors.

Bortuzzo, 35, has played 13 seasons in the NHL, appearing in 560 games. Last year, he started with the St. Louis Blues, for whom his playing time was limited, as he was often a healthy scratch. In December, he was traded to the New York Islanders, who were struggling through a bunch of injuries.

Robert Bortuzzo slid into a regular role, then battled an injury of his own, missing 28 games with a lower-body problem. He was back in time for the final push of the season and the playoffs, continuing to see minutes on the third defensive pairing.

In 27 contests last year, Robert Bortuzzo didn't post a single point but had 51 blocked shots and 38 hits, averaging 13:44 on the ice. He has totaled 74 points, 711 blocks, and 1,095 hits in his career with Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and New York.

Robert Bortuzzo joins a Utah defensive group that's seen some significant upgrades this summer. The team also traded for Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino during the draft and signed veteran Ian Cole to a one-year, $3.1 million contract. Add those names to returnees Sean Durzi, Juuso Valimaki, and Michael Kesselring, and the blue line is a lot stronger, as Utah tries to break out of its long-term rebuild.

Source:
Scottie Upshall on X

Source: Hockey-Reference
Robert Bortuzzo Stats

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AOÛT 31   |   104 ANSWERS Utah Hockey Club sign rugged 6-foot-4 Stanley Cup Champion Will Robert Bortuzzo be a regular defenseman in Utah?
Yes	54	51.9 %
No	50	48.1 %
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