Derek Roy joins Blues

What!? I thought the Blues weren't said to do anything, after not doing much on their first day off free agency. Well anyway, the St. Louis Blues and free agent center Derek Roy have agreed to a one-year deal, worth $4 million. Roy 30, was drafted in 2001 in the 2nd round of the NHL draft (32nd overall) by the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres had Roy for seven seasons, his best season came in 2007-2008. During the 07-08 season, he scored 32 goals and got 49 assists. His most points in the NHL in 81. He finished the season as a plus 13. The Sabers ended up trading Roy in 2012 to the Dallas Stars for forward Steve Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy.

He didn't do that great while playing for the Dallas Stars in 2012-2013, and ended up being traded off to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Kevin Connauton and a 2nd round pick. Roy has been healthy for the most part of his NHL career except for one season, which was in 2010-2011. Last season though, he didn't do that great, and pretty much had an off year. Roy scored only 7 goals, and had 21 assists.

The signing by the Blues looks like a low risk move, with a chance for Roy to bounce back. Roy could have gotten more money in free agency, if he had played a lot better than he did last season. Roy also could give the Blues a number one center, which is something that the Blues need. He wouldn't be asked to do everything also, like he was asked to do on the Sabers.

So far for Roy's career, he's played in 591 NHL games, scoring 168 goals, 287 assists, 455 points, and is a plus 43. He's had 43 power play goals also. In the postseason, he's played 45 games, scoring 7 goals, 19 assists, 26 points, and is a plus 9.

Roy is capable of getting 70 points. If the Blues can get anything close to that, this deal ends up being a big win for the Blues. He also knows two current Blues on the current roster. Both of the players who he knows are: defenseman Jordan Leopold (knows him from their days on the Sabers) and center Maxim Lapierre (spent time with him on the Canucks).

Jordan Leopold staying in St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Jordan Leopold have agreed to a two-year deal, the deal is worth a total of $4.5 million over the two years. He would have become a free-agent on July 5th. Leopold 32, was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2nd round of the NHL draft in 1999, overall he is picked 44th. He never played for the Ducks in the NHL, and ended up being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2000-2001 for forward Andrei Nazarov and a 2nd round pick. His first NHL season came in 2002-2003 for the Flames. He played for the Flames from 2002-2006, before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche had him for two full seasons, and had him for half a season in 2008-2009, but ended up trading him back to the Flames. He was traded back to the Flames for defenseman Ryan Wilson and a 2nd round pick.

After the 2008-2009 season, the Flames traded his free agent rights to the Florida Panthers for the rights to defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. During the 2009-2010 season, he was traded again this time to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2nd round pick. Leopold ended up leaving the Penguins as a free-agent by signing a three-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. In the final year of his contract with the Sabers, around the trade deadline in 2012-2013, the Sabers ended up trading him to the Blues for draft picks. He ended up playing 15 games for the Blues, while getting 2 assists. He also played in all six of the Blues postseason games.

For his career his career so far, he's played 625 games, scoring 65 goals, 139 assists, 204 points, and is a -32. Leopold has played 65 postseason games, his most were in 03-04 while with the Flames. He played in 26 games that postseason, the Flames ended up going onto the Stanley Cup but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Leopold has played ten season in the NHL.

I like the deal for Leopold and the Blues. At that price that he signed for it looks like a steal, he also played well for the Blues down the stretch run at the end of the season. Leopold can also be used on the power play, if need be.
He seemed like he fit in well with the players who were in the Blues locker room.

Kevin Shattenkirk staying in St. Louis, agrees to deal with Blues

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk have agreed to a four-year deal. Shattenkirk will earn $17 million over the four years of his new contract. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2007 NHL draft, he was picked in the first round and picked 14th overall. He would play in 46 games for the Avalanche, before being traded to the St. Louis Blues with forward Chris Stewart, a second round pick for defenseman Erik Johnson, center Jay McClement, and a first round pick.

The deal helped the Blues a lot, giving them a better defenseman than Erik Johnson was. Shattenkirk would end up playing in 26 for the Blues, scoring 2 goals, and getting 15 assists. All of that was in his rookie season in 2010-2011. So far for his career, he's played 201 games, 23 goals, 86 assists, 109 points, and he's a plus 18. Also, since coming into the NHL in 2010, Shattenkirk ranks fourth among American-born defensemen currently playing in points. As for goals and assists he ranks fifth.

The deal was big on the Blues to do list in the offseason, now they need to get defenseman Alex Pietrangelo singed, and forward Chris Stewart. 

I'm glad to see Kevin Shattenkirk staying a Blue, as I'm sure lots of other people are glad also. I give kudos to the Blues management for getting Shattenkirk signed, now for some of the other core players to hopefully be signed, as in the two I mentioned  above Pietrangelo and Stewart.  

Patrik Berglund re-signs with Blues

The St. Louis Blues and center Patrik Berglund have agreed to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $3.25 million. Berglund 25, was drafted in the 2006 NHL draft by the Blues in the 1st round, he was picked 25th overall. In his five seasons in the NHL, two of them he's scored 20 goals, 19 goals in one, 17 last year season, and his lowest was 13 goals (which was in his 2nd NHL season). He scored his first NHL goal on October 13th, 2008 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While, he's shown some flashes that he can be good he really hasn't shown it yet that he's worth a long-term deal. He's had one season, which was his 3rd NHL season, when he got 52 points, in his rookie season he was able to get 47 points. For his career, so far Berglund has played 358 games, 92 goals, 96 assists, 188 points, and is a plus 13.

This one-year contract for Berglund is pretty much, show us you're worth a long-term deal. I know it sometimes takes awhile for players from Sweden to fully come into their own in the NHL. So, maybe that's the case with Berglund. Hopefully, he's able to show the Blues that he's worth a long-term deal. As for myself, I like the deal. It's a win-win type for both sides.

ALONG COMES AUSTIN, SIGNS WITH RAMS

Rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin has agreed to a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams. He'll earn $12,751 million over the five years, and gets a $7,653 million signing bonus. Austin, 22 was picked 8th overall by the Rams in the NFL Draft back in April, when the Rams traded up from no.16 to 8th with the Buffalo Bills to draft Austin. He spent his college football career playing for the West Virginia Mountaineers, he served as both the punt returner and kick returner in his time at the West Virginia. Austin never missed a game in his college career.

While at West Virginia, Austin played in 52 games, catching 288 passes, 3,413 yards, and 29 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,033 yards and 6 touchdowns. Last season for the Mountaineers, he had 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns. Before going to West Virginia, in high school Austin played running back. Austin is only 5'9, but with the speed has he should be able to develop into a nice weapon for the Rams offense. He'll be the Rams kick returner for sure.

Out of all of the Rams draft picks only Austin and linebacker Alec Ogletree out of Georgia, were the only two to get five-year contracts, the rest of the Rams draft picks all got four-year contracts (that includes Austin's teammate at West Virginia wide receiver Stedman Bailey). 

I can't wait until Austin returns a kick for a touchdown during the NFL season, he should be fun for Rams fans to watch.

Ian Cole re-signs with Blues

St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole has agreed to a contract extension with the Blues. The deal is a two-year contract, worth a total of $1.65 million. He'll make $750,000 in 2013-2014, and $900,000 in 2014-2015. The deal is also, a one-way contract. Cole who's 24, was drafted by the Blues in the 2007 NHL draft, he was picked in the first round and was picked 18th overall. He ended up making his NHL debut on November 6th, 2010 against the Boston Bruins in Boston. He scored his first career NHL goal on March 9th, 2011 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Cole has showed scoring ability while playing college hockey and in AHL (American Hockey League). He hasn't shown much of it in the NHL yet, even though he's showed flashes of it while playing for the Blues.
In college hockey while playing for Notre Dame, he played 111 games, with 17 goals, 51 assists, for a total of 68 points. While, playing in the AHL, he played 109 games, 10 goals, 28 assists, for a total of 38 points.

So, far his career stats are: 67 games played, 2 goals, 9 assists, for a total of 11 points. He also is a plus 9 in his career, and has 67 penalty minutes. 

It will be nice seeing Cole in the NHL without going to the minors, during the season. So, hopefully that can help Cole improve his game in the NHL. It's also nice to see Cole staying around. I wonder who the Blues will re-sign next.

Adam Cracknell re-signs with Blues

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forward Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract for the 2013-2014 season. He'll earn $600,000 for this coming season. Cracknell would have been an unrestricted free agent on June 30th. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2004 NHL draft, picked in the 9th round and he was picked 279th overall. Cracknell, who will turn 28 in July failed to make the Flames NHL roster, and was let go by the Flames in 2009. He would end up joining the Blues on July 16, 2009, as an as an unrestricted free agent after spending four seasons in the Flames minors (2006-2009).

Cracknell would finally reach the NHL with the Blues on December 15th, 2010 against the Detroit Red Wings. He would later score his first NHL goal against the Red Wings on March 12th, 2011. He would end up playing in 24 games, scoring 3 goals, and getting 4 assists. And finished the season a plus 1. Cracknell seems to create scoring chances when he plays. And he's done well on the 4th line for the Blues. Last season, the Blues finally found a shut down 4th line which was later known as the CPR line: Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter, and Ryan Reaves. That line ended up becoming one of the Blues best lines last season, and played well in the playoffs.

So far, for his career Cracknell has played 46 games in the NHL, scoring 6 goals, with 8 assists, for a total of 14 points, and is a plus 5. Cracknell also has a total of 12 penalty minutes.

I'm a bit surprised that Cracknell got only a one-year deal, but then maybe the Blues ownership wants him to prove to them that he's worth a 2 or 3 year deal with a full-season played in the NHL in 2013-2014. It's great to know the the CPR line will be staying put.