Blues trade Bortuzzo to Islanders

The St. Louis Blues dealt defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to the New York Islanders for a 2024 seventh-round pick, the club announced Friday.

Bortuzzo, who turns 35 in March, had played for the Blues since 2014-15 when they acquired him in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Islanders needed defensive depth after placing blue-liner Ryan Pulock on injured reserve earlier Friday. They've also been without rearguards Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho since Nov. 24 due to ailments of their own.

Bortuzzo largely fulfilled a supporting role in St. Louis, but he did help the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019. However, the veteran has been limited to four games this season due to injury.

He last played on Nov. 18, logging 12:59 of ice time in a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

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