Veteran defender gets his last chance at an NHL contract with an East Coast team
The New York Rangers have added more competition to their upcoming training camp, signing defenseman Matt Bartkowski to a PTO contract.
Bartkowski is an experienced journeyman, dressing for four NHL teams and three AHL teams over his 12-year professional career. A seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2008, the defenseman got his start with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, where he spent two years prior to joining The Ohio State University for a pair of seasons. Bartkowski turned pro at the start of the 2010-11 season, primarily suiting up for the AHL's Providence Bruins, but did see a handful of games in the NHL with Boston. His main NHL action came between 2013 and 2016, where he suited up for 191 games between Boston and the Vancouver Canucks.
The veteran received a PTO offer last offseason as well, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins for camp. While it didn't result in an NHL offer, he was able to play a key role over a full season on the backend for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins.
Nils Lundkvist's agent told reporters earlier this week that his client won't be attending training camp, holding out until a trade came be completed. This opens up an opportunity for Bartowski to possibly land a depth role with the Rangers or a contract with their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
| POLL | ||
Where will the New York Rangers finish in 2022-2023? | ||
| Top 3 in the Metro | 54 | 52.4 % |
| In a Wild Card Spot | 24 | 23.3 % |
| Champions of the Metro | 16 | 15.5 % |
| Winning the Presidents' Trophy | 9 | 8.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
