Blues sign Bortuzzo for two years

Defenseman will make $1.05 million; acquired at trade deadline for Ian Cole

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues have locked up another of their restricted free agents with the signing of defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a contract Thursday.

General manager Doug Armstrong confirmed the contract at two years at $2.1 million ($1.05 million average annual value). 

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) was acquired at the trade deadline from

the Pittsburgh Penguins for Ian Cole.

Bortuzzo, 26, who was acquired at the NHL Trade Deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Ian Cole and a 2016 seventh round pick, had three goals and eight points in 51 games with both the Blues and Penguins last season. He had one goal and three points in 13 games with St. Louis. He made $600,000 last season.

"I'm extremely excited," Bortuzzo said. "Obviously it's a very strong organization, held in high regard around the league.

"I've enjoyed my time there, as short as it's been. We have a lot of pieces in place, so to be a part of that will be exciting."

The Thunder Bay, Ontario native is expected to play in the Blues' top six. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he will replace the physical game that was lost with Barret Jackman, who signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

The Blues also continued to stockpile their depth at the American Hockey League level when they signed forwards Jordan Caron and Danny Kristo to two-way contracts Thursday. 

Caron, 24, spend last season with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche. The former No. 1 pick in 2009 (25th overall) has 12 goals and 28 points in 153 career games.

Kristo, 25, spend last season in the New York Rangers organization and had 22 goals and 46 points in 72 games with the Hartford Whale of the AHL. 

The team traded a seventh round pick in 2016 to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Konrad Abelthauser and signed forwards Cody Beach, Pat Cannone and Jeremy Welsh to two-way contracts in the past week.