Robert Bortuzzo

Bortuzzo suited up in just 42 games last year, serving as an occasional healthy scratch. The 31-year-old features minimal fantasy upside; his career high is 13 points back in the 2017-18 season. Bortuzzo's a physical presence on the blue line, although he may cede that role to Niko Mikkola as the season progresses.

Bortuzzo doesn't stack the point column, but he plays solid in the defensive zone and is willing to stand up for his teammates. Or stand up to them, in the case of Zachary Sanford, who Bortuzzo fought in a December practice when the Blues were bottom feeders. While having teammates fight is never a good sign, this was one of the storylines that helped spark the Blues from last to first, and Bortuzzo coincidentally earned a three-year, $4.125 million extension. Bortuzzo doesn't have any legitimate fantasy worth, but he could get more consistent ice time if Joel Edmundson is traded.

The rugged defenseman achieved career highs in goals (four), points (13) and blocked shots (108) in 72 games last year. Bortuzzo doesn't shy away from contact either, squaring up on opponents 121 times and logging 41 PIM. When all the defensemen in St. Louis are healthy, the 29-year-old may be the seventh man looking in, so he'll stay off fantasy radars for the final year of his contract.

Bortuzzo was looking like he may be the odd man out on the St. Louis' blue line. With Jay Bouwmeester fracturing his ankle, though, he'll likely be called upon for the first few games. Regardless, he won't be summoned enough as a third-rotation defender to become a fantasy contributor.

Bortuzzo collected four points (2G, 2A) in 15 games with Pittsburgh and four points (1G, 3A) in 31 AHL contests in 2012-13. The stay-at-home defender plays with a nasty edge, totalling 100-plus penalty minutes in each of his two full seasons with Wilkes-Barre. Bortuzzo often served as a healthy scratch with the Pens last year, but he should see more action in 2013-14 with another year of experience under his belt. Aside from penalty minutes, Bortuzzo offers little in the way of fantasy value.

Bortuzzo got his first taste of NHL action in 2011-12, suiting up for six games with the Pens. The 6-foot-4 blueliner has never scored more than 26 points in any of his three AHL seasons, but his forte is all about defense. Although the right-handed shooter failed to register any points in his brief trial in Pittsburgh, he didn't look out of place. With top-four defender, Zbynek Michalek, leaving the team for Phoenix, there's a decent chance Bortuzzo cracks the opening night lineup. Even if he does, there's a much better chance of him preventing possible goals than producing them. For that reason, he likely holds little fantasy appeal.