7th year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(44) found himself in a position of few suitors for a big league deal heading into 2016/2017 after spending the previous season in uniform with Vancouver Canucks under a one-year term.
The nicely mobile blue liner played a career high 80 games scoring his 1st NHL goal (along with 5 others) and 12 assists with a -19 rating on a non-playoff team.
He 212 games in the show to his credit.
Possibly not wanting to give up on the dream, he opted not to ink overseas, deciding to rejoin some familiar ground signing a minor league contract with Providence Bruins.
In 34 AHL games he has 2 goals and 8 assists with a 0 +/-.
His play was good enough to catch the attention of Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year contract for the remainder of the calendar and 2017/2018.
In his 1st game with a new squad he skated 18 shifts for a 10:55 total ice.
TBT: Matt Bartkowski (44)
Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#170 overall) sixth year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(44) had pretty much done all he could under the current system with the club.
Heading into 2015/2016 he was left without a contract coming off a one-year extension for a continued look, but after a disappointing season getting only 4 assists in 47 games with a -6 rating on a non-playoff team it was time to look elsewhere.
The 6’1″ 196 d-man had his most productive year 2013/2014 wearing a spoked B, as he dished the puck for 18 assists and was a +22 plus/minus and was looked at as a blue liner strong in his own zone with the ability to move the puck.
It was his first full year up in the big league.
In his first three campaigns he split time between the parent team and minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, where he was able to connect for almost 20 assists each season and always counted on to punish players in the attacking zone.
It didn’t take long for Vancouver Canucks to step in, signing him to a nice pay increase on a one-way contract as unrestricted free agency opened.
The 27-year old has new life, striking for his first two NHL goals and 5 assists in the first 25 games with the new club and also looks to show a healthy increase in penalty minutes.
Time and change of scenery may be just want the doctor ordered for this deep draft selection to realize his potential.
Matt Bartkowski(43) Boston Bruins
2nd year Boston Bruins defenseman, Matt Bartkowski(43) impressed enough at training camp to score himself a spot in the lineup on opening night. He appeared in 6 games for them last season
Originally picked by Florida in the 7th round of the 2008 draft (#190 overall), he played most of his rookie season in the AHL with Providence appearing in 69 games picking up 5 goals and 18 assists. Only real downside was his -18 plus/minus.
Matt Bartkowski(3) Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh native, Matt Bartkowski(3) has skated in trio of games with Boston on three different recalls and all of them have coincidentally been against his former home town team, the Penguins.
He hopes that he will continue to play with the big club and face another opponent.
Matt Bartkowski(3) Providence/Boston Bruins
In his rookie season defenseman Matt Bartkowski(3) has seen action in the NHL with Boston on two seperate call-ups. His decent play could be one of the reasons the Bruins have cooled on the play of Mark Stuart and are looking at him as salary clearing trade bait.