After terminating his KHL contract yesterday, center Vladimir Sobotka and the Blues are making progress on a multi-year deal that could see him rejoin the team shortly, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The 29 year old owes the Blues one year at $2.725MM on a contract that was awarded by an arbitrator prior to the 2014-15 season. Rather than signing it, Sobotka opted to go play with Avangard Omsk back in Russia for the past three seasons.
If he were to return this season, he could fulfill the previous contract but he would be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. While St. Louis could certainly use the upgrade, that wouldn’t be the most ideal way to bring him back. If they can come to terms on an extension, it would be a strong compromise for both sides, allowing the team to potentially get Sobotka back for the playoffs while giving him a multi-year deal at presumably a higher AAV.
As always, Friedman’s full 30 Thoughts column is worth a full read but here are a handful of the other highlights:
- The arrival of the Golden Knights next season may have an impact on the salary cap, particularly the NHLPA’s decision to use their annual escalator at a rate of up to 5%. It has been used each year since being instituted but it has resulted in escrow increasing quickly as well, something that the players aren’t happy with. With Vegas having some money to spend as an expansion team, the players could opt to decide that their entrance is enough of a boost to the market this summer and instead decline to artificially raise the salary cap ceiling with the escalator.
- The NHL’s announcement that they will not stop the season to allow the players to participate in the Olympics could have an effect on the international free agent market. In particular, Friedman cites Russian forward Vladimir Tkachyov, who has received interest from the Devils, Maple Leafs, and Oilers, as someone who may now be less likely to make the jump across the pond in time for 2017-18.
- While the rumored extension between Toronto and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev that leaked last week has yet to become official, Friedman notes that there’s no expectation that the deal will fall apart. The seven year term caught many by surprise but the team was okay going with that long of a deal in order to keep the AAV of the contract down. Morgan Rielly, their top blueliner, has a cap hit of $5MM so it’s understandable that Toronto would want to keep Zaitsev at a lower price tag.