LONDON — The Ottawa Senators have invited defenceman Matt Bartkowski to training camp next week on a professional tryout contract.
Bartkowski, 28, scored six goals and 12 assists in 80 games with Vancouver last season. He has scored six goals and 36 assists in 211 career NHL games with Vancouver and Boston.
There are no guarantees Bartkowski makes the Senators roster, but with only six other defencemen on guaranteed NHL contracts, it helps create a more competitive camp on the blueline.
The signing also adds intrigue to this weekend’s rookie tournament in London. Thomas Chabot, the Senators 19-year-old prospect who was drafted 18th overall at the 2015 NHL entry draft, is aiming to have a strong tournament here, using that as a springboard to trying to make the Senators roster out of training camp.