Blues, Berglund have verbal agreement on one-year contract

Center who was to be a restricted free agent will make $3.25 million in 2013-14

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Scratch another restricted free agent off the list of players the Blues are looking to sign to contracts.

Center Patrik Berglund, who was second on the team with 17 goals this past season behind Chris Stewart's 18, has agreed in principle on a one-year contract worth $3.25 million, which was confirmed by general manager Doug Armstrong.

Patrik Berglund

Berglund, 25, made $2.4 million in the second year of a $4.5 million contract last season.

There was the possibility of a long-term contract, but Berglund, who will be a RFA once again next summer, and the Blues were satisfied with the terms of playing under a one-year deal.

In similar fashion what Armstrong did with T.J. Oshie and with Stewart -- who's also an RFA -- last summer, Berglund, who finished with 25 points in 48 games this past season, is playing under the proverbial "prove it" contract that Oshie parlayed into a five-year deal and one Stewart is looking to turn into a long-term contract.

The Vasteras, Sweden native was a first-round pick (25th overall) by the Blues in the 2006 NHL Draft who has 92 goals and 188 points in five seasons along with nine points in 19 career playoff games.