Matthew Richard Bartkowski (born June 4, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He most recently played for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career

Florida Panthers

Bartkowski played high school hockey at Mt. Lebanon High School in suburban Pittsburgh. He was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 7th Round (190th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft following his final year in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars.

Boston Bruins

On March 3, 2010, the Panthers traded Bartkowski, along with Dennis Seidenberg, to the Boston Bruins for Byron Bitz, Craig Weller, and a 2nd round 2010 NHL Entry Draft choice. On April 29, 2010, Bartkowski was then signed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Bruins.

On January 10, 2011, Bartkowski made his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins against his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Bruins went on to win the game 4-2, with Bartkowski registering two penalty minutes.

Bartkowski with the Bruins in 2013

On June 15, 2011, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup in game seven against the Vancouver Canucks. Bartkowski got to take part in the Bruins celebration and he also got to raise the Stanley Cup without playing a single playoff game with the Bruins. He did not, however, have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, as a player to have his name inscribed must have played at least 41 games for the championship team during the regular season (provided the player remains with the team when they win the Cup) or played in at least one game of the Stanley Cup Final.

On May 13, 2013, Bartkowski scored his first NHL goal, notching a playoff goal during Boston's Game seven win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On July 14, 2014, Bartkowski signed a one-year extension with the Bruins worth $1.25 million, avoiding arbitration.

Vancouver Canucks

On July 1, 2015, Bartkowski signed a one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks. On October 18, 2015, Bartkowski scored his first NHL regular season goal in a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The goal came in Bartkowski's 137th game played in the NHL.

Bartkowski appeared in a career-high 80 games for the Canucks during the 2015-16 season, scoring 18 points. However, the club chose not to re-sign him at season's end, making him an unrestricted free agent.

On September 16, 2016, Bartkowski was signed to a professional tryout by the Ottawa Senators. On October 5, he was released from his professional tryout with the Senators. He returned informally to the Bruins organization in accepting a professional try-out contract with former club, the Providence Bruins of the AHL to begin the 2016–17 season. In 34 games with Providence, Bartkowski added 2 goals and 10 points.

Calgary Flames

On February 15, 2017, Bartkowski was signed to a professional tryout with the Calgary Flames, reuniting him with head coach Glen Gulutzan, formerly an assistant in Vancouver. The next day, Bartkowski signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Flames.

Minnesota Wild

On July 1, 2018, as a free agent from the Flames, Bartkowski agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild. He re-signed with the Wild on another one-year, two-way contract on June 11, 2019.

Later years

As a free agent after three seasons within the Wild organization, Bartkowski agreed to attend the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a professional tryout basis in preparation for the 2021–22 season. After participating in pre-season, Bartkowski was released by Pittsburgh and signed to a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, on October 2, 2021.

Following a full season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Bartkowski for the second consecutive season went un-signed over the summer. He later joined the Rochester Americans in the AHL, affiliate to the Buffalo Sabres, agreeing to a professional tryout contract on October 29, 2022 to begin the 2022–23 season. He converted the tryout into a full-time contract in December 2022, spending the rest of the year with Rochester.

Bartkowski retired after the 2022-23 season and is currently a broadcaster with SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2004–05Mount Lebanon High SchoolHS-PA
2004–05Pittsburgh Predators AAAU18 AAA
2005–06Mount Lebanon High SchoolHS-PA21142943
2005–06Pittsburgh Predators AAAU18 AAA
2006–07Lincoln StarsUSHL573699530002
2007–08Lincoln StarsUSHL6043741135814510
2008–09Ohio State UniversityCCHA415152046
2009–10Ohio State UniversityCCHA396121899
2010–11Providence BruinsAHL695182342
2010–11Boston BruinsNHL60004
2011–12Boston BruinsNHL30000
2011–12Providence BruinsAHL503192238
2012–13Providence BruinsAHL56321245650554
2012–13Boston BruinsNHL11022671124
2013–14Boston BruinsNHL640181830801110
2014–15Boston BruinsNHL4704437
2015–16Vancouver CanucksNHL806121850
2016–17Providence BruinsAHL34281027
2016–17Calgary FlamesNHL241122640000
2017–18Calgary FlamesNHL180334
2018–19Iowa WildAHL7041519481111210
2018–19Minnesota WildNHL21010
2019–20Iowa WildAHL552161855
2019–20Minnesota WildNHL10000
2020–21Iowa WildAHL2317819
2020–21Minnesota WildNHL10000
2021–22Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL72412162961010
2022–23Rochester AmericansAHL653111460142138
NHL totals256840481572012314

Awards and honors

AwardYear
USHL
First All-Star Team2008
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team2009

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or