Blues bring Upshall back for one year

Veteran winger will earn $900,000 on a one-way contract

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Impressed with his contributions from the moment he came on board on a professional tryout last season, the Blues decided they want to have Scottie Upshall on board from the get-go after signing the veteran forward to a one-year contract on Wednesday morning.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Scottie Upshall celebrates after scoring a goal against 

Chicago in the playoffs this past season.

Upshall and the Blues agreed to a one-way, $900,000 contract, up from the $700,000 two-way contract he signed coming out of camp last season.

The 32-year-old Fort McMurray, Alberta native, who could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, played in 70 regular season and 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Blues last season.

In the regular season as a predominantly fourth-line winger, Upshall had six goals and eight assists and added one goal and two assisst despite playing through an injury sustained late in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Upshall has 121 goals and 127 assists in 623 NHL games.

With Upshall's signing, the Blues have just a shade under $13.7 million under the new salary cap ceiling that was established by the NHL on Tuesday, set at $73 million, which is up from the $71.4 million last season.

The Blues are still trying to negotiate a long-term contract for pending restricted free agent Jaden Schwartz and are still in the negotiating window leading up to July 1 for pending unrestricted free agents David Backes and Troy Brouwer, among others.