Follow me on Twitter: @JTQ_1
Join the conversation on Facebook! Like the Hockeybuzz – Blues Page
-
Fans of the St. Louis Blues will rest a little bit easier tonight thanks to good news delivered late Thursday.
Restricted free agent forward TJ Oshie has agreed to a 5 year contract extension which will pay an average of $4.175 million per season.
The 25 year old Mt. Vernon, Washington native tied with captain and usual linemate David Backes for a team high 54 points in 80 appearances last season. For his career Oshie has dressed in 262 NHL games and registered 63 goals and 175 points. In nine 2012 playoff appearances he tallied just three assists against the San Jose Sharks and LA Kings. In four post season contests against Vancouver in 2009 Oshie recoded no points.
Oshie was the Blues first round selection in 2005, 24th overall, and spent three seasons at North Dakota before turning pro for the 2008-09 season.
According to Capgeek the Blues have signed all their RFAs. Only forward Jason Arnott and defensemen Carlo Colaiacovo and Kent Huskins remain unsigned as unrestricted free agents. At this point none of the three are likely to return.
A few interesting tidbits to chew on till more details surface Friday. I'll do my best to update the post.
- Note the term matches Backes', but does not surpass it in terms of cap hit. There is no other forward more critical to the success of the team than the Inglorious captain. Apparently the Blues wanted to reinforce the concept in writing. That said, there isn't another forward closer to Backes' level of importance than Oshie. An argument can be made that Alex Pietrangelo eclipses them both and it is a valid one. However, comparing defensemen to forwards feels like apples to oranges. Both fruit, but not the same kind.
- The Blues bought three of Oshie's UFA years. That is assuming free agency rules remain the same in the next CBA. Unlikely, but worth pointing out. Knowing General Manager Doug Armstrong's trends in his St. Louis tenure the salary will escalate throughout the duration of the deal. How much hard cash is put in to Oshie's bucket in those years is critical to assigning positive or negative reviews at the contract's expiration.
- Oshie is now the third highest paid player in the organization based on AAV. Andy McDonald tops the list at $4.7 million and Backes is second at $4.5 million. From a pure salary perspective netminder Jaroslav Halak is number one as he is due $4.25 million in 2012-13.
-
My Take
Before hearing any details regarding clauses and salary structure, my gut reaction is largely positive.
Avoiding arbitration ends fears that the relationship between the team and player would be poisoned. The term and pay are a just reward for what Oshie has done to date and what is expected of him in the future while preserving and pseudo pecking order by keeping two time 30 goal scorer and 2012 Selke nominee, captain David Backes, the highest paid forward on average long term.
Reserving rights to alter opinion based on how much Oshie will be paid in the last three years of the deal.
-
Your Take
Will your head rest easier on the pillow tonight? Will you wake up to a much happier Friday than anticipated when you chucked the alarm clock across the bedroom before checking Twitter?
Do you like or dislike the deal? Too much commitment for only one
real season where Oshie did not miss significant time due to injury and was a consistent contributor in all areas? Do you think the Blues are paying more for potential than production?
-
Andronov Update
Dave Eminian, the Peoria Rivermen beat writer for the Peoria Jounral Star,
tweeted Thursday afternoon that the Blues have not heard from the Russian prospect yet regarding where he will play next season.
Reiterating what we know from
my post Thursday morning:
A post on the CSKA Moscow website -- which includes quotes from GM Sergei Fedorov -- states Sergei Andronov will leave the KHL to start his career in North America. Considering the Blues own his NHL rights since they picked him 79th overall in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft, he would be destined for the organization's AHL affiliate in Peoria.
-
Thanks for reading!
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»