Minnesota Wild: 2018-19 Season Preview Matt Bartkowski

An advance look at the Minnesota Wild roster, counting down the days to the preseason starts. Today’s look is at #44 Matt Bartkowski.

Defenseman Matt Bartkowski signed with the Minnesota Wild on July 1st as a free agent. He was a cheap veteran depth signing, most likely bound to spend his time as a gritty leader in Iowa for the majority of the year, which could actually be more on-ice action than he’s seen in years.

History

Bartkowski was a 7th round draft pick of the Florida Panthers back at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, who never suited up for the team that drafted him. In 2010, Bartkowski was traded to the Boston Bruins where he proceeded to make his NHL debut the following season.

In 5 seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins, Bartkowski spent more time in the AHL with their farm-team affiliate in Providence. Matt played 175 Games for Providence, as opposed to only 131 Games for Boston.

He had a career best year in 2013-14, putting up 18 assists alongside a +22 plus/minus, in 64 games at the NHL level. These were all career highs at the time, which earned him a contract extension with the Bruins at that time.

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In the years since, he topped out at 80 games played in his lone season with the Vancouver Canuck, where he repeated his career high 18 points that season, but coupled it with a career worst plus/minus at -19.

The last 2 years have been spent with the Calgary Flames, where he only managed 42 games total in those 2 seasons. Bartkowski spent most of these past 2 seasons watching the action as a healthy scratch in the press box, but despite this was praised by his teammates and coaches in Calgary as being a consummate pro who was always prepared to have his number called at a moments notice.

Season Outlook

This brings us to his place on the Minnesota Wild roster, as he was brought in this season on a one year, two way contract near the league minimum salary. At first glance, this looks like a depth signing which won’t have much impact on the team this year.

I am inclined to say that first impression should be a pretty solid stance to take on a 30 year old veteran defenseman, on a 2-way contract, with very little offensive upside. Bartkowski won’t blow you away on the highlight reels, he’s not a fighter, nor or much of a heavy hitter, but what he does bring is determination and hockey sense.

Matt Bartkowski is an average NHL defenseman by most standards, he’s as good as the team around him and can serve to fill a bottom 6 role for any period of time whenever he is called on. In a way, he reminds me of the kind of player that Nate Prosser had been for this team for years.

Unfortunately for him, the Minnesota Wild already have a Nate Prosser and don’t need another one. I foresee one of two places that Bartkowski can fill on this team, both really serve as a one-year placement with very little reason to keep him on beyond that.

The most likely option, is that Bartkowski will spend the year in Iowa as a veteran for the young defense to learn from, to impart his wisdom on the Wild prospects in the AHL and serve in a leadership/mentor role while staying ready for an emergency call-up

The second possibility, would be for Bartkowski to spend the year as he did in Calgary sitting in the press box. This would allow the WIld to carry a 7th defenseman for the year while providing the young prospects with all of the ice time in the AHL to grow and develop their games.

Given the Wild’s unfortunate history with injuries in recent years, it’s not outrageous to think that keeping Bartkowski in the 7th D role in the press box (something Prosser knows all too well) could be a very useful option for prospect growth in the minors. Wherever he ends up, though, I don’t expect him to be playing more than 15-20 games this year for the Minnesota Wild.