St. Louis Blues sign Brandon Saad to a 5-year contract

Igor Burdetskiy July 29, 2021

1 1 minute read

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Brandon Saad #20 of the Colorado Avalanche skates on the ice during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on January 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

The St. Louis Blues have signed Brandon Saad to a 5-year, $22.5M deal with a $4.5M AAV.

Saad’s vision came true on Oct. 7, 2011, when he made his NHL debut for the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected him in the second round (No. 43) of the 2011 NHL Draft. The native of Pittsburgh went on to establish himself as a consistent scorer with at least 23 goals in four of his first six full NHL seasons.

A strong skater with good instincts, Saad originally wanted to be a goalie but his mother talked him out of the idea, telling him he was too good and too fast a skater. The advice proved sound when Saad was accepted into the USA Hockey National Team Development program in 2008.

Saad transferred two years later to the Canadian Hockey League and played two years of major junior hockey with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League, where he produced 131 points (61 goals) in 103 games. He also represented the United States in the 2012 World Junior Championship, scoring one goal and five assists.

A Calder Trophy finalist in 2013, Saad finished his first season in the NHL tied for fifth in points among NHL rookies (27) and tied for third in assists (17) in 2012-13 and went on to share the lead among rookies in points with six (one goal) in 23 playoff games while helping Chicago win the Stanley Cup.

Saad also helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2015, finishing with 11 points (eight goals) in 23 games. He later played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2016 as a member of the Blue Jackets, who obtained his negotiating rights in a trade with Chicago on June 30, 2015, and signed him to a six-year contract on July 3, 2015. He tied for the Columbus lead with 53 points (31 goals, 22 assists) in 2015-16.

Saad was traded back to Chicago on June 23, 2017 and then played with the Avalanche in the 2020-21 Season.

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Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine

I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!