Bortuzzo is a physical player who doesn't fill up the scoresheet, but the smooth-skating defenseman is a reliable puck-mover with a solid right-hand shot.

He scored two goals for the Blues in their run to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship, including the winner in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Bortuzzo in the third round (No. 78) in the 2007 NHL Draft before he helped Kitchener win the Ontario Hockey League championship and reach the Memorial Cup final in 2008. Bortuzzo turned pro in 2009-10 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and his plus-13 rating led its defensemen that season. His steady play helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton give up the fewest goals in the AHL in 2010-11 (183) and 2012-13 (178).

Bortuzzo made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 5, 2011. He played six games with the Penguins in 2011-12 and 15 in 2012-13, finishing with a plus-3 rating and scoring his first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 6, 2013.

He established himself as an NHL regular in 2013-14, finishing with 10 assists and 137 hits, second among Penguins defensemen, in 54 games. Bortuzzo made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 26, 2014 and got his first NHL postseason point on May 5, when he assisted on a goal by Sidney Crosby against the New York Rangers.

The Penguins traded Bortuzzo and a 2016 seventh-round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for Ian Cole on March 2, 2015. He made his Blues debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 5, 2015.

In 2015-16, his first full season with St. Louis, Bortuzzo played 40 games and was fifth on the Blues in penalty minutes (52). He had NHL career-highs in goals (four) and points (13) in 2017-18.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Traded to St. Louis by Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh's 7th round pick (Filip Helt) in 2016 NHL Draft for Ian Cole, March 2, 2015.