Drawing parallels between the 2019 Blues and Islanders seasons, both teams faced a lot of adversity. The Islanders fought through an up-and-down season and needed all the grit and resilience to earn a playoff berth, while the Blues needed to fight back from last place in the Western Conference on January 1, 2019. did not become. Bortuzzo's qualities will continue. It was essential for the Islanders to continue their season.
“It's always good to have guys who have won before,” Dobson said. “He had a unique experience when we won against St. Louis. They were behind in some ways and had to fight back. He brings a lot of insight.”
In Roy's eyes, this unique honor gives the Islanders a competitive advantage.
“He brings us the stability we need,” Roy said. “He's tough to play against because he's a big man.”
Bortuzzo spent parts of 10 seasons with the Blues, and the Islanders were well aware of his strong reputation on the ice until he was acquired by the Islanders on Dec. 8.
“He's a very well-liked guy in the locker room and has a lot of respect around the league,” Mike Riley said. “I heard a little bit about his background from people in St. Louis, and they all said he was a great guy. A pro's pro.”
Bortuzzo has faced personal obstacles this season, with a lower-body injury forcing him to miss 33 games. He returned on March 21 and had 17 hits and 31 blocked shots in 12 games in a wild playoff run.
He skated the majority of those games alongside Riley, the Islanders' other new addition, who provided reinforcements on the blue line. The two were a defensive pair heading into the playoffs and were balanced on the ice.
“We played together there, and I felt like we were getting better and better,” Riley said of his chemistry with Bortuzzo. “We work well with each other. He's a little more defensive-minded, gets forward with every shot, and is physical.”
Bortuzzo not only made an impact on the ice, but he also has qualities that can't be measured on the stat sheet. The immediate presence he brings to the room is felt by his teammates and is appreciated every day.
“He's a man of high character and you can tell right away how genuine a person he is,” Lee said. “His presence in our room makes a big difference in his energy and aura. It's very infectious. He's been a great addition to the team.”
