The St. Louis Blues made the playoffs last season. The Blues are making moves now that will not only repeat that, but push them hopefully further in the post-season.
The most talked-about gain for the Blues is the signing of offenseman Derek Roy. The center signed a one year deal with the Blues worth $4 million. Roy has 168 goals and 287 assists in 591 career games in the NHL. His veteran experience will help the Blues as the playmaker will likely find himself as the first or second line center.
Maxim Lapierre has left the Vancouver Canucks and signed a two year deal with the Blues. In his 48 games with Vancouver he racked up 10 points (4g 6a) as well as 45 penalty minutes. Lapierre has been in the NHL for 8 seasons and has 113 points (54 g, 59a), along with 476 penalty minutes in 463 regular season games. Hopefully Lapierre can provide a bit of a physical presence for the Blues.
Patrik Berglund will be back in St. Louis next season after signing a one year deal worth $3.25 million. Berglund had 17 goals last season and was the Blues’ second most successful scorer coming in behind Chris Stewart who had 18 goals.
Also returning will be Kevin Shattenkirk. The defenseman signed for an additional four years and $17 million. He had 5 goals and 18 total points in all 48 games of last year’s shortened season with St. Louis.
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images)
Coming up on defense for St. Louis will be Taylor Chorney. He signed a one year, two-way contract with the Blues. The 26-year old dressed in 73 games last year with the American Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen. Chorney represented the Blues’ AHL affiliate well by ranking second in points for defensemen with 24 in total (4 g, 20a) and tallying up 37 penalty minutes.
St. Louis signed Keith Aucoin to a one year deal worth $625,000. Aucoin dressed in 41 games with the New York Islanders and totaled up 6 goals and 6 assists. Look for Aucoin to end up as a third line center.
The Blues have also resigned Ian Cole to a two year deal, and Adam Cracknell to an extra season in St. Louis.
On defense, Jordan Leopold has been signed to a two year deal with the Blues. The 32-year old had 2 assists in 15 regular season games with the Blues last year and dressed in all 6 playoff games. Leopold has 10 seasons of NHL experience that he brings to the St. Louis blueline.
Some players won’t be back in a Blues jersey, maybe the most notable will be Andy McDonald. McDonald wasn’t dealt away at the trade deadline, but instead chose to retire citing worry over personal health and concussion issues.
Kris Russell has also left St. Louis as he has been signed with the Calgary Flames. In exchange, the Blues picked up a fifth round pick in the draft. Russell had one goal and six assists in 33 games in St. Louis.
Also not returning to St. Louis will be Jamie Langenbrunner. Lagenbrunner was not offered a contract extension by the Blues, and didn’t see much ice-time last season after suffering a hip injury.
DaveSchauer
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