THUNDER BAY – It’s a big year coming up for veteran NHL defenceman Robert Bortuzzo.
The seven-year veteran, still just 29, is entering the final year of a two-year deal with the St. Louis Blues, coming off arguably his best season in the big leagues, one that saw him score four goals and nine assists in a career-high 72 games.
But as any hockey fan knows, the NHL is the epitome of a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. A sluggish start could lead to less ice time, which in turn means his options would be fewer come free agency next summer.
In turn, a hot start could encourage the Blues to start working on an extension, to keep the rugged defender on their blue-line.
He’ll leave the contract talk to his agent, for now, content to let his play on the ice and his attitude in the dressing room speak for themselves.
“Nothing’s been talked about yet,” he said. “I haven’t really been in a situation like that as a player in the summertime where I’ve had calls. I’m the type of guy who wants to see what every year brings. It’s a challenge I take pride in.
“I’m always just trying to evolve and grow as a player and I do enjoy being there. I love the guys and the city and the organization, so whatever comes to be, I’m open. At the end of the day it’s just about playing good hockey game and winning hockey games for the group.”
Winning is something the Blues didn’t do enough of down the stretch last season, dropping five of their last six before being ousted from the playoffs on the final day of the NHL season by the Colorado Avalanche.
Not surprisingly, they were big movers in the off-season, bringing in forward Tyler Bozak, Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron as free agents, also signing goaltender Chad Johnson to replace the departed Carter Hutton – Bortuzzo’s best friend and former teammate with the Fort William North Stars in 2005-06.
He’s a big fan of the moves.
“You add four pieces like that, especially guys up front who have scored a lot of goals in this league, they’ve all been through playoff runs and they’re just true professionals. That speaks a lot to an organization that’s willing to go and do that,” Bortuzzo said. ‘
“You’ve got four guys coming in who are true veterans and I think as a group we’ve got – I don’t want to say a veteran team, because we’ve got sprinkles of young guys, an almost eclectic group of ages – but I think we’ve got true professionals now and guys who actually get it and get the idea of being a pro and winning culture. It’s an exciting time and I’m looking forward to getting down there.”
The Blues open pre-season play on Sept. 18.
