Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Flyers sign D Bartulis to extension

The Philadelphia Flyers signed 6’2”, 195-pound defenseman Oskars Bartulis to a multi-year contract extension, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

"Oskars has developed nicely over the past two years and fit in nicely with our team,” said Holmgren. “We are happy to have him under contract and are pleased to know he is part of our defensive group for the next several years."

Bartulis, 22, has two assists and six penalty minutes in 10 games with the Flyers since being recalled on Nov. 9 from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 12 vs. Ottawa. With Adirondack this season, Bartulis posted two goals and two assists for four points, and 14 penalty minutes in 12 games.

“At first I was surprised they offered it to me because it was such a short period of time,” said Bartulis. “I didn’t think about it a lot. I said ‘yes’ because the Flyers are such a great organization and I am very happy to be here.”

In 2008-09, he appeared in all 80 regular season games with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, where he posted 13 points (2G,11A) and 59 penalty minutes.

In parts of three seasons with the Phantoms (2007-08 to 2009-10), Bartulis has registered 38 points (5G,33A) and 115 penalty minutes in 149 career games. He has also appeared in four Calder Cup Playoff games with the Phantoms.

A native of Ogre, Latvia, Bartulis was originally selected by the Flyers in the third round (91st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

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