Matt Bartkowski is a professional ice hockey player who has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. He was born on June 4, 1988, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Bartkowski played college hockey at Ohio State University, where he was a standout defenseman. He was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins in 2010.
Bartkowski made his NHL debut with the Bruins in the 2011-2012 season and played in 11 games. He became a regular on the Bruins' roster in the 2013-2014 season, playing in 64 games and recording 18 points. He was a key player for the Bruins during their playoff run that year, helping them reach the second round.
After four seasons with the Bruins, Bartkowski signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2015. He played in 80 games for the Canucks that season, recording 18 points. He played one more season with the Canucks before signing with the Calgary Flames in 2017.
Bartkowski played in 18 games for the Flames in the 2017-2018 season before being placed on waivers and sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, for the rest of the season.
Bartkowski signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2018 and played in 18 games for the team that season. He spent most of the season with the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. He signed with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL in 2019 but was called up to the Anaheim Ducks for a brief stint.
Bartkowski played in the Swiss National League for the 2020-2021 season, signing with HC Lugano. He played in 36 games for the team, recording 13 points.
Overall, Bartkowski played in 255 NHL games, recording 48 points. He was known for his physical play and defensive skills on the ice.
🏒