Jori Lehtera leaves KHL, signs with Blues

Finland native, center Jori Lehtera, has signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. He'll make $5.5 million over those two years. Lehtera, 26, was drafted by the Blues in the 2008 NHL draft in the 3rd round, and was picked 65th overall. He had a short stent in the Blues minors in 2008-2009, for then the Peoria Rivermen. He played in 7 games for them and recorded an assist. That season they made the playoffs, and he played 7 games in their playoff run, with 1 goal, and 1 assist, and 2 points. Besides that short stent in North America, he's been playing in the KHL, Russia's top league for hockey.

He's was able to make himself one of the top players in the KHL, while playing for Sibir Novosibirsk. One of his teammates there was current Blues player Vladimir Tarasenko, in 2011-2012. Both had great chemistry playing together, so that should be able to help Lehtera who hasn't played an NHL game yet. He's pretty much player who is high skilled, and is a pass first player. Last season, while playing for Sibir Novosibirsk, he played in 44 games, with 12 goals, 32 assists, 44 points, and was a plus 14. In the playoffs for them, he played in 10 games, getting 6 assists, and 6 points. He made back to back All-Star games while playing in the KHL the last two season.

It sounds like he could center a line with Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. If that line ends up to be true come the start of the NHL season, it could end up being a pretty sweet line to watch.

I'm excited to what Lehtera can do in the NHL once he plays. There's been lots of talk about him before.

Blues make big splash on first day of NHL free agency, land Paul Stastny

The St. Louis Blues have been looking for a number one center for awhile, that that on today when they signed free agent center Paul Stastny. He gets a four-year contract, the deal is worth $28 million. Stastny,28, was drafted by he Colorado Avalanche in the 2005 NHL draft in the 2nd round, picked no.44th overall. His first season in the NHL was in 2006-2007. That season he played in all 82 games, scoring 28 goals, with 50 assists, and 78 points, he finished as a plus 4. He also scored 11 goals on the powerplay that season. He ended up finished second in the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) voting. He's played eight seasons in the NHL, so far he's played in 538 games, 160 goals, 298 assists, 458 points, 47 powerplay goals, 1 shorthanded goal, and is a plus 6. In the playoffs, he's played 22 games, with 8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points, and is a minus 4.

Stastny, made his first NHL All-Star team in 2010-2011. Last season he played for team USA in  Sochi, Russia. He joins current teammates David Backes, T.J. Oshie, and Kevin Shattenkirk who were part of team USA. Shattenkirk also knows Stastny from the Avalanche, before the Avalanche traded him to the Blues a couple of years ago.

He's the son of Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Blues before the end of his career, and is the younger brother of former Blue Yan Stastny (played for the Blues from 2007-2010). He'll become the fifth farther-son combo to play for the Blues in franchise history.

This is a great move by the Blues to start their offseason. The Blues needed a number one center and more offense. They get both in Paul Stastny. Kudos to the Blues for stepping up and landing him.