Robert Bortuzzo
A rugged, stay-at-home defenseman who used his imposing frame and shot-blocking courage to last over a decade in the NHL trenches.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
Robert Bortuzzo's hockey story is one of physical perseverance. Drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, the Thunder Bay native embodied the classic defensive defenseman. Standing 6'4", his game was built on simplicity: clear the crease, block shots, and deliver punishing checks. After winning a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in his rookie season of 2009—though he didn't play in the finals—he found a more permanent home with the St. Louis Blues via trade in 2015. In St. Louis, Bortuzzo became a fan favorite for his unwavering toughness and team-first attitude, contributing to the Blues' culture of resilience that culminated in the 2019 Stanley Cup championship. His role was never about points; it was about absorbing punishment to protect his goaltender and shift momentum, a valuable asset often measured in bruises and blocked-shot statistics.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Robert was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup twice, with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 (as a rookie) and the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
- Played over 450 regular-season NHL games across 11 seasons, primarily with the St. Louis Blues.
- Recorded a career-high +14 plus/minus rating during the St. Louis Blues' 2018-19 championship season.
- Was known as one of the league's top shot-blocking defensemen per minutes played during his prime.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Penguins the same year they selected future superstar Sidney Crosby's eventual longtime linemate, Jake Guentzel, though Guentzel was drafted much later.
He missed significant time in the 2021-22 season after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury sustained from a hit by fellow tough guy Mark Borowiecki.
He played his junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL.
His final NHL contract was with the Utah Hockey Club (formerly Arizona Coyotes) for the 2024-25 season.
“My role is simple: protect our net and make their forwards pay the price.”
