We are approaching the start of the best time of the year, hockey season. When hockey starts again in a few weeks, there will be a new defenseman dawning the iconic blue shirt on the ice in New York. Matt Bartkowski will be competing for an NHL contract, which will likely see him end up with the Hartford Wolf Pack if he does end up being rewarded a league minimum deal.
#NYR have signed UFA d-man Matt Bartkowski to a Professional Tryout (PTO).
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 18, 2022
Bartkowski played in the AHL last season with the Wilkes-BarreScranton Penguins.https://t.co/4enJBMnM5c
Now, the Rangers have to decide what they are going to do about their defensive depth because it is going to be far different from what it is now. New York is looking to trade one of its young right-handed defensemen as it is, so if they can add some depth to the system via the free agent market and without even using up a contract spot, I find it hard to call that bad business.
Bartkowski is 34 and has been around the block a few times. He’s already got the jerseys of the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild in his repertoire. In 256 NHL games, Bartkowski has 8 goals and 40 helpers for 48 points. It is fair to say that Bartkowski is a capable NHL defenseman. While he shouldn’t be used as a permanent fixture, he could be a good mentor down in Hartford.
Bartkowski isn’t someone that is going to challenge for an NHL spot on a team like the New York Rangers, who have Stanley Cup aspirations, but if you lose a couple of guys to injury and you need someone to step in during game 59 of the regular season, he could step in and do a job in that position. He’s not going to be a full-time NHL player. He’s probably not going to be a scratch either. However, an 8 or 9 D man in Hartford? Yeah, he can do that.