Blues Extend Robert Bortuzzo

Robert Bortuzzo will remain in the Show-Me State for another two seasons.

The St. Louis Blues signed the rugged defenseman to a two-year extension with an AAV of $1.15MM, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He currently makes $1.05MM on the contract he signed with the Blues in July of 2015.

The 6’4, 221 lb Bortuzzo has two points in 11 games so far this season, and has been out of the lineup since early December with a lower-body injury.

St. Louis acquired Bortuzzo (and a seventh round pick) from Pittsburgh at the 2015 trade deadline for defenseman Ian Cole. Bortuzzo has a total of seven points in 64 games over the past three seasons with the Blues.  For his career, Bortuzzo has played in 177 contests between Pittsburgh and St. Louis, recording 20 points (4-16-20).

With the deal, St. Louis now has $15.85MM tied up in four defensemen for next season – Bortuzzo, Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, and Joel Edmundson.  Most notably among their unsigned blueliners is Kevin Shattenkirk, who is likely to be the most sought after defender if he makes it to unrestricted free agency in July.  Colton Parayko is also unsigned but will be a restricted free agent.