Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.ontariohockeyleague.com
- Name: Robert Bortuzzo
- Position: D
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 196 lbs
- Birthdate: 1989-03-18
- Eligible for Draft: 2007
- Drafted: 2007
- Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Acquired: 3rd round (78th overall), 2007
- Playing In: Pro
Robert Bortuzzo
Prospect Grade: 7.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2006-07: Bortuzzo’s offensive game is still in its infancy, as he only accounted for 14 points in 63 games.
2007-08: The tall defenseman finished third among defensemen in scoring on his team with 3 goals and 15 assists in 52 games, helping them win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, the award given to the OHL team with the best record. Bortuzzo also contributed 8 assists during his teams’ 18 game playoff run which ended in a loss final game of the Memorial Cup to the Spokane Chiefs.
2008-09: Bortuzzo missed all but 23 games in the 2008-09 season because of surgery he had to repair a nagging rotator cuff injury. In his few appearances he managed 1 goal and 16 assists while seeing time in all situations.
2009-10: In his first professional season, Bortuzzo managed 2 goals, 10 assists, and 109 penalty minutes including 9 fighting majors. He also managed a plus-13. He also showed no ill effects of the surgery from the previous season, appearing in 75 games with the Penguins AHL affiliate.
2010-11: In his second season with the Penguins AHL affiliate, Bortuzzo managed 4 goals, 22 assists, and 111 penalty minutes that included 6 fighting majors. He also managed a plus-28 which was not only among the best on the team but among the best in the AHL.
Talent Analysis
Bortuzzo is a tall, upright skater with a large wingspan and a primarily stay-at-home style of play. While he already weighs around 200 pounds his upper-body needs to fill out further to match his powerful lower half. Not to be mistaken for an offensive defenseman by any means, the towering blueliner has a decent first pass and is a strong enough lateral and backward skater to pinch in to keep a play alive. While Bortuzzo does play with some physicality he is much more effective at pinning players against the boards and utilizing his long reach than delivering punishing body checks.
Future
Bortuzzo will play another season in the AHL but should be among the first to be called up if injuries strike the NHL squad.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: September, 6th 2011
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