(9-23-21) BLUES NOTEBOOK

Thomas officially signs two-year, $5.6 million contract; Hitchcock back, 

Chiarelli promoted to vice president of hockey ops; TV, radio schedule set

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The last piece of the roster puzzle for the Blues has been solved when center Robert Thomas signed a two-year, contract worth $5.6 million on Wednesday ($2.8 million average annual value).

Thomas, 22, was a restricted free agent and would have missed training camp, which begins Thursday, had he not signed his contract.

Thomas will make $2.4 million in base salary this season and $3.2 million next season before becoming a RFA again prior to the 2023-24 season.

The signing puts the Blues over the $81.5 million cap hit, roughly $1.2 million over it, but it is likely that forward Oskar Sundqvist, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, will be placed on long-term injured-reserve at the start of the season, which will give the Blues $2.75 million of cap relief, and once Sundqvist is eligible to return after either 10 games or 24 days, the Blues will have to make a corresponding move to get back under the cap or not carry 23 players.

Thomas is a first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft who is coming off 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 33 games; in three seasons, he has 87 points (22 goals, 65 assists) in three seasons spanning 169 regular-season games.

* Hitch is back; Chiarelli brought in as vice president of hockey ops -- Former Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is back.

The Blues also announced on Wednesday that Hitchcock will return to where he was previously head coach as a coaching consultant.

Also, former Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli was named as vice president of hockey operations, replacing Dave Taylor, who will stay with the organization in a role of senior advisor to hockey operations.

The 69-year-old Hitchcock, who was recently with the Oilers as a consultant after coaching the Oilers in the 2018-19 season.

Hitchcock coached the Blues from 2011-17, going 248-124-41 in the regular-season. The Blues qualified for the postseason in each of his six seasons, including reaching the Western Conference Final in 2015-16 before losing to the San Jose Sharks in six games. Hitchcock's 248 wins and his 413 games coached are second in Blues history behind Joel Quenneville (307 wins, 593 games coached).

Hitchcock, who was fired by the Blues Feb. 1, 2017, and current Blues coach Craig Berube share a history together in junior hockey and with the Philadelphia Flyers when Hitchcock coached there and Berube was with the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Hitchcock has also had stints as coach with the Dallas Stars (twice), Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets and ranks fourth in NHL history with 849 wins (849-534-88). 

The 57-year-old Chiarelli began his executive career with the Ottawa Senators after the team hired him as assistant GM in 1999 before being named GM of the Bruins in 2006, serving 10 seasons, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Chiarelli was hired as Oilers president of hockey operations and GM, a role Doug Armstrong serves with the Blues, on April 24, 2015 and spent four seasons in that role.

Chiarelli has been with the Blues in a consulting role the past couple seasons.

* Blues TV/radio schedules set -- All 82 Blues regular-season games this season will be broadcast on the air and over the radio airwaves this season.

Bally Sports Midwest will televise 69 regular-season games in its 25th season as the home of the Blues. In addition, the Blues’ three preseason home games will be streamed live on the Bally Sports app and BallySports.com. 

The Blues are scheduled for national television 13 times, either on TNT, ESPN, ESPN+ or Hulu. 

In its third season as the Blues radio partner, 101 ESPN will broadcast every game on the radio, 101espn.com and the 101 mobile app, including each preseason game.

John Kelly and Darren Pang will return as the announcing tandem, and Pang, who joined the TNT national team this past off-season, when he's off doing work there, will be replaced in the booth by former Blue Jamie Rivers.

Rivers and Bernie Federko will serve as on the Blues Live pregame and postgame shows as well as intermission reports. 

Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale will return to call the action on the radio dial at 101 ESPN.

Each game on 101 will feature a one-hour pregame show with 101's Alex Ferrario as well as extended postgame shows.

Hofer, Ellis offer Blues strong foundation for organizational depth in goal

2018, 2019 draft picks will be showcased this weekend during Traverse 

City Prospect Tournament; competition has helped pair become closer

By LOU KORAC
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Right now, the present and future of goaltending with the Blues belongs to Jordan Binnington.

His six-year, $36 million contract extension he signed on March 11 kicks in this season, a contract he earned with his play helping the Blues achieve the ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup in 2019 and subsequent seasons after by helping get the team back to the playoffs.

(Canadian Press photo)

Blues prospect Joel Hofer (right) makes a save during the 2020 World

Junior Championship. Hofer is expected to play in the AHL this season.

But the next wave of Blues goaltending has been in town this week and will showcase their talents beginning Friday at the Traverse City Prospect Tournament with 2018 fourth-round pick Joel Hofer and 2019 third-round pick Colten Ellis.

And for two Canadian guys, one from Winnipeg (Hofer) and the other from Antigonish, Nova Scotia (Ellis) that were drafted in consecutive years looking to gain a foothold over the other on the organization's depth chart, they've become good friends searching for the same objective.

"He's a great guy," Hofer said of Ellis. "Can't say enough good things about him. He's obviously a battler. He had a good year last year. It's good, friendly competition. It's great."

Ellis added: "I met him a couple years ago. It was nice to see a familiar face come into camp, but being able to kind of watch him and see what he does throughout the day and in practices and just kind of seeing if that will help my game as well. It's nice to have some good, friendly competition."

For the 21-year-old Hofer, who backstopped Canada to the 2020 World Junior championship by posting a 1.30 goals-against average and .946 save percentage, his work with the main squad last season puts him in line to be the organization's No. 3 goalie behind Binnington and Ville Husso, which puts him in line to be the top goalie at the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds this season, a role he is looking forward to, and one that will be important to his development because should something happen to Binnington and/or Husso, Hofer will be the one thrust to the NHL.

"Every goalie here want to play games," Hofer said. "I think that's going to be great for me, but I'm just going one day at a time and focus on the things I can control and see where it takes me.

"I feel really good right now. I had a really good off-season. I talked to the goalie (coaches) prior to the summer and had a plan on things to work on during the summer. I really focused on those things and coming into camp, I thought I've done those things pretty well and I think it's helped me. Just trying to keep going one day at a time and keep trying to get better every day."

Hofer spend a good portion of last season in St. Louis working with the big boys but also was able to get to Utica (N.Y.) to play with the AHL's Comets, going 4-6-0 with a 3.33 GAA and .898 save percentage. Prior to that, Hofer was 34-8-5 with a 2.49 GAA and .915 save percentage in 2019-20 with the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks.

"I got a lot out of both," Hofer said of last season. "Being here was amazing. I got to see 'Binner' and 'Huus' and they do what they do and go on the road and get a feel of what they go through on a daily basis, but then again, it was great to play games and get back into rhythm."

The 20-year-old Ellis, despite playing in just 24 games, couldn't have asked for a better season with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was 23-1-0 with a league-leading 1.78 GAA and .926 save percentage in leading the Islanders to the second round of the playoffs.

"I think we were very fortunate to be able to play," Ellis said. "A lot of teams in Canada and the CHL didn't have that opportunity. Even in the second half, I think we only played two teams until playoffs came around. It was great to get to play and to play in an organization like Charlottetown, it was awesome to be there and meet all the guys and get to see the city and all that stuff. I was very fortunate that I was able to get some games in and we were able to play.

"My confidence definitely did grow just working on not necessarily from seeing the numbers themselves, but just feelings in practice and doing some work with the (Islanders) goalie coach, Paul Drew, closely, and kind of fine-tuning some deals like that. Just over time, we were able to kind of pick apart my game a little bit and try and improve on small areas and do some fine-tuning."

Ellis knows right now he's fourth on the depth chart behind Hofer and realizes that for him to grow within the organization, he needs to continue to develop properly and open eyes when the opportunities are presented.

"I think for me, my goal is to just make a good impression and compete and work hard every day and do all the little details right and just bring my game to another level and see where that takes me," Ellis said. "... You look at the guys in the organization from last year to even this year too. It's like anywhere you go, there's going to be a lot of competition. The guys that have been playing here for a while are obviously here for a reason and the best around. To get to kind of watch them in practice and look at the details they pay close attention to is definitely very awesome to be able to see everything that they go throughout the day."

There's no doubt that the Blues have a pair of goalies that will push the limits on how far up the depth chart they can go. Binnington is locked in for the next six seasons, but Husso will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and depending on how he performs this season, there could be an opening to move up even closer should the chance arise, especially for Hofer if he plays well at Springfield this season.

"He's made some big strides," Blues director of player development Tim Taylor said of Hofer. "He looks bigger, he looks stronger in the net, his pushoffs look stronger. He takes up a little more of the net now. We're expecting him to be the No. 1 guy in Springfield and really push to get in the lineup at some point, some day. Goalies take a little longer for development, but it's nice to see his progression, his development. He'll be a guy that will play most of the minutes in Traverse City. We expect him to be our third guy in the organization, so he's got to be ready and keep progressing.

"Ellis had a great year last year with the records that he set. We were pleasantly surprised with him as well. When you draft these guys, you just don't know what their work ethic is like and where they're going to end up in a year or two but he's made some big strides as well. ... He's coming into his first year of pro so we're looking for him to make some big strides this year and keep progressing as a goalie."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Goalie prospect Colten Ellis was 23-1 with a 1.78 GAA and .926 save

percentage with Charlottetown of the QMJHL last season.

Hofer will get the majority of the minutes in Traverse City this weekend when the Blues open pool play Friday against Toronto (2 p.m.), Saturday against Detroit (6 p.m.) and Monday against Dallas (11 a.m.) but it's a chance for each to get game action and to get back in the groove again.

And continue to prove each belongs.

"I think this will be my third time in Traverse," Hofer said. "Every time it's always fun. It's a good bonding moment to get to know the guys a little bit better. We play mini pod or whatever it is and just hanging out with the guys playing cards, or whatever it is, but it's definitely fun getting in some game action before main camp."

"I was there a couple years ago. It's a fun weekend," Ellis said. "We've got three games in four days. It's always fun to travel with the guys and be around everybody and get to kind of experience the lifestyle of what it's like to play pro hockey. Just go up there and showcase what I've got and it'll be a lot of fun."

Neighbours focused on making Blues roster as 19-year-old

First round pick in 2020 making favorable impression on management, 

coaches, scouts with work ethic, skill; paid own way to come to St. Louis early

By LOU KORAC
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Teenagers tend to save money for all sorts of things, whether it be for that first car or whatever they may want or need.

For Blues prospect Jake Neighbours, he scrounged up some money of his own to take a trip: to St. Louis.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Jake Neighbours, a 2020 first round pick by the Blues, came to town early

and paid his own money to get here so he can work with the veterans.

Neighbours, 19, wanted to make a favorable and lasting impression as his journey as a professional hockey player is blooming as we speak, and he felt coming into town a month-plus outside of prospect camp and training camp to work with the big boys was a good first step in accomplishing that.

And he did it on his own dime, showing up in St. Louis in early August and putting his work boots on.

"Me and Scotty Perunovich came up in early August and we thought it would be a good idea to be up here with the NHL guys, to get a chance to skate and work out with them and be around pros," said Neighbours, a power forward left wing and 26th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. "That's just something I've wanted to do since I was a young kid. I thought it was worth the money to come up here and be up here for a month. I don't regret my decision at all, so it was good.

"I had to save up a little bit, yeah. I was paying rent back in Calgary, so I thought why not make the move to St. Louis and be up here with the pros?

"... I just came up here and became a sponge and soaked it all in. Getting to learn from those guys is very valuable at a young age."

And even though the odds are stacked against him, Neighbours has one objective in mind: to make a favorable impression on coaches and management and give them reason to keep him here for the long haul. 

And right away.

"I like to believe so," Neighbours said. "You never want to count yourself out. I think it would be pointless to show up here and think I'm here just for the motions. I want to come here and try to push for a spot. That's what we want to do every single camp. You don't want to come in here with no hopes, confidence in yourself that you're going to play in the NHL. I know it's a very good team here, obviously a lot of veteran guys, but I'm just going to learn from them, push them and make myself better in the process. If I get a chance to play for the Blues, it's obviously an unbelievable opportunity at this age. That's what I'm here to try to do.

"... I (also) think just believing in yourself. Obviously it's a man's league and probably something that's very hard to do as a young player, but I'm very excited for the opportunity. I just try and remind myself that I'm here for a reason and the Blues are confident in me so I try and play like that and not change who I am. I'm just going to go out there and try and play my game, show then what I've got and the rest will take care of itself."

Neighbours spent the past four years in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings, including last year's shortened season in which the 6-foot, 195-pound winger was able to total 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in just 19 games which also included a team-best plus-29 playing alongside Dylan Guenther, the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft. Neighbours also had a career-high 70 points (24 goals, 46 assists) in 64 games the previous season.

"We were very fortunate in the Western Hockey League to be able to play some games," Neighbours said. "Obviously being up with St. Louis before that and it was really good then. Getting to the Western Hockey League for the start was obviously great. We got a chance to play some games. Our team had a really great year and had a lot of success. We didn't get to experience any playoffs or anything like that, but it was obviously good to get into some games."

Neighbours spent some time with the Blues last season before going to the WHL. The team has been impressed with not only his work ethic but attitude in wanting to get better each day.

"He made a huge impression on the coaching staff last year and the whole organization," said Tim Taylor, the Blues' director of amateur scouting. "Great attitude, very humbled boy. He's a hard-working kid. He spent a full month here on his own money to be here and to get ready for camp in August. He looks like he's a lot thicker this year. His skating, it looks like he's gained a step. He knows what to expect. He's been at this pace for the last month skating with all the NHL players. Obviously that's the pace he's going to go up against when the season starts, but he's a kid that we're really excited about and really a guy that's going to push to be in this lineup very soon.

"Everything that I've seen and witnessed with him and talked to him and done Zoom calls with him indicates that he will do everything in his power to make this team. He's got great character, off the chart character. Anyone I've talked to in the Western (Hockey) League, especially his coaching staff loves the way he plays, loves the way he brings his practice habits each and every day. His body has gotten bigger for sure and he's done a really good job in transforming and getting stronger. These young kids, it's all about strength and conditioning and getting ready and maturing as a man to play at this level. It's another year under his belt from an 18-year-old to a 19-year-old. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to bring in, at Traverse City first."

Neighbours will be among the prospects heading to Traverse City, Mich. for the annual prospect tournament up there beginning Friday at 2 p.m. against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It gives him the chance to showcase himself and put him in a better line to perhaps at the very least, raise some eyebrows at the main training camp next week.

"Just to have a strong showing," Neighbours said. "There's going to be a lot of pros there, a lot of good hockey players. For me, it's kind of my first taste of playing some live action against some pro hockey players. We'll see how I stack up against them for starters and then kind of go from there. I'm excited for the opportunity and I know a lot of guys here are as well. It will be fun.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Left wing Jake Neighbours hopes to showcase himself with

fellow prospects in Traverse City, Mich. this weekend.

"I tried to work on my scoring and my shot, try to make that more lethal. ... And obviously skating. The game's getting faster every single year so you've got to be able to keep up and specifically try to work on my acceleration, come out of the corners and being quick at battles and stuff like that. I really tried to put an emphasis on everything this summer."

And should Neighbours wind up in Springfield (Mass.) playing in the American Hockey League with the Thunderbirds, there's one pitstop he's hoping to make along the way: representing Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championship after participating in the Team Canada Summer Showcase.

"That's obviously a huge goal of mine to play in the World Juniors," Neighbours said. "It's something I've wanted you always want to do as a kid growing up. It was a really good experience to get to go there this summer and he with the best from around the country. I got reunited with a lot of guys that I haven't seen in a long time and got to play some high level hockey. That's all you could ask for in the middle of the summer and it was a good lead-up coming up to St. Louis. It was really nice to get an invite there and hopefully I'll be back there in December and make the team for the tournament."

Healthy Perunovich ready to play, become a pro

Second-round pick in 2018, did not play in 2020-21 after missing five 

months following shoulder surgery; Bozak re-signs for one year; Bolduc held out

By LOU KORAC
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- March 7, 2020 may be just a date on the calendar and to some, it's just another average, ordinary day.

For Blues prospect Scott Perunovich, it was the last time the defenseman played a meaningful hockey game.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Defenseman Scott Perunovich, a 2018 second-round pick, will be the

captain of Blues prospects as they head to the Traverse City Tournament. 

It was with the University of MInnesota-Duluth, a 6-1 win against St. Cloud State, a game in which Perunovich had an assist and put the Bulldogs one step closer to defending their NCAA Division I national championship. 

Then COVID-19 hit and canceled the postseason and ended Perunovich's collegiate career. He would win the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top college player, but since then, the 23-year-old Hobbing, Minn. native has dealt with, like many of his peers, with the ramifications of COVID and an unfortunate shoulder injury that required surgery that knocked the left-handed defenseman out for five months.

After discussion with Blues brass and the medical staff, it was decided going under the knife was the best course of action and the surgery on his left shoulder was performed on Feb. 12.

Scrimmaging with teammates is one thing. Practicing with teammates is one thing. Playing games against another opponent is another.

"I don't know exactly when I was hurt," Perunovich said. "I fell down in camp and kind of popped a little bit, saw the trainer and then they did the rest, they did a great job in taking care of it right away and getting me back to 100 percent.

"It was very tough, but injuries happen in sports all the time. Try not to dwell on the past and just hoping to have a good camp, see how it goes."

Now, the Blues' second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft will play in his first live game when the prospects head to the annual Traverse City Prospect Tournament in Michigan, with the first game Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 2 p.m.

It will be 559 days since Perunovich's last competitive action, and for a player that is high on the Blues' list among prospects within the organization, it's time to play games again and see what the player can do at the pro level.

"I don't know how long it's been since my last game, 14, 15 months or something," Perunovich said. "Playing games definitely helps getting back into the swing of things. I'm looking forward again to some live action back."

So are the Blues, who know what they have in a quick, puck-moving defenseman with mobility and speed. Seeing it at a professional level is something they not only want to see but need to see.

"You see these kids playing against kids their own age and the same levels at college and at junior, but you want to see them to strive and see how their body and mind adapts to the pro level," said Tim Taylor, the Blues' director of player development. "It's another steppingstone and you never know how kids react. You'd like to think that they're good enough of a hockey IQ is going to rise and play at the next level. But you don't really know that for sure until you see it. Really looking forward to seeing what he's going to bring. His attitude has been really, really good. He's going to be our captain here at Traverse City. He's going to take a lot of responsibility and we're going to put that upon him and expectations for us is he goes out and plays his game."

Perunovich, who said he's feeling "great now" after having the surgery performed here in St. Louis, then getting full care from Justin and Chloe Faulk.

"I ended up staying at Justin Faulk's house with his wife Chloe. They did a good job taking care of me after the surgery," Perunovich said. "That was definitely a huge help and I'm very thankful to have them helping me out throughout the process.

"It was unbelievable being able to stay with them. They took care of me every step of the way. Didn't have many chores, just kind of had to clean up after myself. They took care of the rest. They did all the cooking. His wife was amazing. I got my wisdom teeth out, she took care of me the whole time there too. She was pregnant too at the time, so it was probably tough. She was taking care of me too the whole time. I'm just really thankful to be able to have those two helping me out throughout the whole process."

Perunovich skated on the taxi squad last season after the surgery but was never able to get in due to the length of recovery, at a time when the Blues could have used help on the blue line. But the next step is waiting.

"Just simplify and play my game, give it 100 percent and just be confident," Perunovich said. "Hopefully everything takes care of itself.

"Mentally just getting into pro action and realizing that this stuff happens all the time. It's just how you come back after it and taking care of your body and having that pro mindset, getting ready for a career."

It's a career that could see a fast track to the NHL, perhaps as early as this season at some point, or get some seasoning in at the American Hockey League level with the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds.

"He's a dynamic player on the point and on the power play. He sees the ice very well, he makes other players better around him," Taylor said of Perunovich. "He's had a full year of obviously rehabbing and getting ready for pro hockey. He got a little taste of it last year before his surgery. He's come in with a great attitude and really worked on his body. You try and take positives out of negatives and obviously we didn't want him to come in and have to have surgery but obviously that was the case. Now he's brought that as a good attitude, very focused and seeing and watching what pro is all about. It's going to give him a good chance to make a run at this roster. Obviously Traverse City is going to be the first step to that process. We're really looking forward to seeing how his level of play is going to rise at this camp."

Perunovich, who played the last three seasons in college on the right side, has plenty of competition to earn playing time with the Blues, including that of rising players like Jake Walman and Niko Mikkola among the younger blue liners. He's just here to make his case and let the chips fall where they may.

"No conversations yet. Just right now, getting into the swing of things," Perunovich said. "With everyone there, there just hasn't been much to talk about lines or position-wise. Wherever they want me to play, I'll play there and try and do my best.

"I know they have a lot of good defensemen here who can play both sides of the ice. Right now I'm just looking to get my feet underneath me and play where I need to play, but there's definitely a lot of good defensemen on the team and it will be hard to get it."

* NOTES -- Tyler Bozak is staying put. The veteran center, who was an unrestricted free agent, agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will pay him $750,000 plus performance bonuses. Bozak, 35, spent the past three seasons here and helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019; he is coming off a contract that paid him an average annual value of $5 million. 

Zachary Bolduc, the Blues' first round pick in 2021, was held off the ice for precautionary reasons after sustaining a lower-body injury during junior camp. Bolduc will be re-evaluated prior to departing for Traverse City.

The Blues released a statement on Tuesday indicating that one of the prospects in town was robbed in downtown on Monday, saying, "The St. Louis Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that took place on the Arch grounds early Monday evening involving one of our organization's prospects. Our player, who is in St. Louis for our rookie camp, is safe as local authorities work to apprehend the suspect. We will have no further comment at this time."

One of the coaches involved in prospect camp is former Blue Chris Thorburn, who retired after the Stanley Cup-winning season. Thorburn will stay on with the club and assist with the prospect pool within the organization, according to Taylor, and include assisting with the AHL club in Springfield.

Backes signs one-day contract, retires as a Blue

Former captain, second-round pick in 2003 spent 

10 of 15 seasons in St. Louis, call it a career at age of 37

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- In a fitting gesture, David Backes will hang up the skates where it all began.
Backes and the Blues consummated a one-day contract on Thursday so the former Blues captain could retire from the NHL where his career began, in St. Louis.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

David Backes signed a one-day contract on Thursday and retired

from the NHL as a member of the Blues, where he played 

The 37-year-old spent 10 of his 15 seasons as a member of the Blues, who selected the Minneapolis, Minn. native in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. He signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent following the 2015-16 season before finishing out his career the past year-plus with the Anaheim Ducks and played in his final NHL game against the Blues at Enterprise Center on May 5.

"After seeing Barret (Jackman) do that (in 2016), it really clicked with me that that was an awesome opportunity and to have that has been phenomenal," Backes said of signing a one-day contract with the Blues. "Last year was a difficult year for everyone with COVID and then you put in protocols and the lack of fans and a little bit of isolation. I spent a ton of time on the taxi squad, which is sub-optimal, played 15 games or so. 

"I wanted to play 1,000 games so the idea was just one more year, but then you start thinking of of the practicality of, 'OK, it's an 82-game season, does somebody even want me, first of all?' And then if you're on a team, are you able to get in a lineup for 35 games, stay healthy. I've had some health issues obviously in the past. I felt like the game was kind of done with me and truthfully, I felt like I was mostly done with the game as well. So I think it felt right with the ending we were able to have. Does 35 more games to get me to 1,000 somehow many me feel whole inside? I don't think it does. I think it's all these memories that are coming back and the people that have messaged me today and the sentiment that was shared with the places I've played and people I've connected with. That's really impactful to me. I have been gone for a lot of kids' activities and things and it's time for me to reconnect with family and be present and be grateful for all the opportunities we did have. But now to be in this next chapter, which just feels right, and again, the script seems too good to be true of how it ended and now the Blues being interested in a one-day contract so I could come back there and end this where it all began."

So Backes closes a career that saw him play in 965 regular-season games and 82 Stanley Cup playoff games; he finished with 561 points (248 goals, 313 assists) in the regular season and another 39 (17 goals, 22 assists) in the playoffs as one of the tougher two-way centers to play in his time after coming out of Minnesota State University-Mankato as a right wing. He finishes his career seventh in Blues history in games played (727), seventh in goals (206), 10th in assists 254), seventh in points (460) and fifth in penalty minutes (969).

"I'm hoping that, well, I think that's something other people have to decide how I will be remembered," Backes said. "How I hope to be remembered was a guy that gave it all and did everything in my power and didn't waste an opportunity, left it all on the ice and was a great teammate to the guys I was wearing the same sweater as. The statistical component of it, the on-ice success as a team, that is what it is, but if I'm remembered as a guy that was dependable, that was responsible, that cared for people and then went out there and did it myself, to me, that's all that matters as I leave this game."

Other than winning the Stanley Cup, Backes couldn't have scripted a better exit from the game, playing his last game where it all began and to have so many of his ex-teammates, including David Perron, Jaden Schwartz, Colton Parayko and others there to greet him afterwards in an emotional setting with his wife and parents in attendance.

"Maybe option A is to win a Stanley Cup in your last game," Backes said. "Option B was probably my last week in the league went with the two games in St. Louis, played my last game there and then the final two games for the Ducks were in Minnesota where I grew up obviously. I didn't play a game there, but I was able to be home by family, have some friends come out to those games just to share a little NHL experience one more time with them. I can't believe that's the way my last week went and I'm so grateful for it. That reception in St. Louis is something that's cinched in my brain and all those festivities meant a ton to me. I'm happy that I can have this opportunity to be a part of the Blues organization again at the end of my career."

Backes was captain of the Blues from 2011-2016, and also fittingly, was named the 20th captain in Blues history 10 years ago to the day on Sept. 9, 2011 but signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Boston Bruins after helping lead the Blues to the Western Conference Final. They lost to the San Jose Sharks in six games, and one of the lasting memories was the emotional interview Backes gave after the Blues fell in Game 6, almost a feeling then he knew he possibly played his final game in St. Louis with pending free agency looming and knowing how close the Blues were to reaching the Cup Final for the first time since 1970.

That playoff run was the one memory Backes said will remain with him and one he'll always remember.

"The one moment to me is in 2016 Game 7 against Chicago in the Scottrade Center and everything leading up to that knowing everything that rested on that game," Backes said. "I truly believe if we don't win that game and the lack of success we had in the playoffs in years prior that it might be a complete teardown of that team because we just couldn't get past Chicago and maybe they get some more momentum from winning that first round and they win another Cup. There's a lot of things that really pivoted on that game. Instead we win, we beat Dallas in seven games in the second round and then we're into the conference finals and it's like, 'We've got something here and this doesn't need a full re-do. This needs a couple tweaks and we're right on the doorstep or it needs a couple bounces or it needs one more piece here or there and all of the sudden, we're at the promised land.' I think certainly it happened. 

"Unfortunately, I wasn't a part of it, but I think a couple years later, you get ... not that it was Hitch's fault or Mike Yeo's fault, but you get a new coach (Craig Berube) that's got more of a workmanlike background and emphasis and guys accept roles and a goalie gets hot, and all of the sudden, that step is taken in quite a turnaround year. I think we all felt that that was a possibility after we made that run in 2016. That moment, I'd say in Game 7. I think Troy Brouwer was the most seasoned guy and was a former Blackhawk and had a big game that game. All those memories of going into that game and the nerves, being on Cloud Nine after that game are certainly burned into my brain."

Backes reached his Cup Final, and of course it had to be against the Blues in 2019 and the one time the city is glad he fell short of winning it all at that time.

"There was so much emotion wrapped up into that," Backes said. "Some players never make it to a Stanley Cup Finals and play 15 years, I'm grateful for that opportunity. When I left St. Louis, I said if the team I was playing on wasn't going to win the Cup, I hoped it would be the Blues, and as much as that was a bitter pill to swallow that year because I had hoped to win a Cup, I was happy for the city of St. Louis. At the same time, my guts were ripped out from being so close and not winning it."

Backes played a role in helping many current and former Blues into the NHL players they are today, including among them, Perron, Schwartz, Kevin Shattenkirk, T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo, who Backes passed the captaincy to when he left as a free agent. Backes was also USA teammates with Oshie and Shattenkirk at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

"The list you have stated, I think the friendships that you make when you play together are ever-lasting and to see some of those guys succeed and the professional realms of their hockey careers and know that they're passing that along to the next generation, they're just good, quality humans and to connect with those guys, that really hit home for me last year when Kevin Shattenkirk and I were able to reconnect on a professional level with the Ducks and just that mutual respect and admiration that we had for each other of we got an opportunity to play together again and that was kind of full circle for our relationship and now he's still in town playing and I'm going to be watching," Backes said. "Now I get to be a huge fan of those guys and cheering them on and hoping for their success and that I can have a little bit of a side saddle for what they're able to do in their careers. Those are opportunities that I'm so grateful that I was able to take and to pour into some of those guys to help them along. Hopefully it was equally enjoyable for them along the way."

When Backes departed St. Louis, he handed the captain's 'C' off to Pietrangelo, who took the reigns and wanted to make sure he lived up to No. 42's tenure as the leader of the franchise. The two have become best friends and Backes was in Pietrangelo's wedding when he was married.

"One of the best leaders I've ever been around," Pietrangelo said. "One of the best leaders in terms of demanding a lot from his teammates and being respectful at the same time. And having followed up him being captain for me, I'm actually grateful I learned from him, not only as a friend but as a leader and as a player. ... It was a fun time to spend together. Unfortunately, I wish it would have lasted, both of our careers, but we had some good battles along the way after he left.

"He always said stay true to who you are and never change that. That was one of the things I remembered. Even when I got named captain, he wrote me a nice note about me as a person and as a player and things that I can always learn from him. David takes so much time to care about other people, and so does Kelly. When I got named captain, it wasn't David trying to step on my toes but the phone calls were always, 'How can I help? How can I help you? What can I do to help? If you have any questions, what can I do to to make this easier for you?' I said to him (Thursday), I'll always be grateful for that because that's the type of person he is and his wife it as well."

Shattenkirk, who played with Backes in St. Louis from 2010-2016 and again with the Ducks last season, feels Backes should be remembered as someone who laid it all on the line on a nightly basis and was more than happy to be his teammate.

"First and foremost, a fierce competitor," Shattenkirk said. "I think that was something you knew you were always going to get out of him. He was willing to do anything for his team to win, and I think he recognized when he might have had an off night, he would find different ways to chip in whether it be great on the penalty kill, good on the face-off dot, willing to stick up and fight to try to change the momentum of a game. In my mind, that's someone who just wants to win at all costs. I think that's something that I'll always remember about him.

"... I'm even happier that I got to play with him last year and be a part of his final season after going through everything in St. Louis and knowing the role he had in St. Louis being our captain and being the leader of our team and seeing him transition into a different role last year was refreshing. There was just a lot less on his plate. I think he really enjoyed the game and soaked up the life of being in the NHL and realizing how special it is. I think when we were in St. Louis, we had such great teams and we were fighting tooth and nail to try to get to the ultimate goal, but a lot of that was the culture that he instilled and he was a part of as a leader of that group. To be able to play with him and to become a teammate of his but more so obviously become a friend of his. We live three blocks away from each other out here in California. I've just been really glad that I've still been able to connect with him and see where the road kind of takes him from now on."

And if that doesn't convince you how great a teammate Backes was, remember the Backes-Vladimir Tarasenko scuffle in practice some years back? Shattenkirk said there was a purpose for it, and as captain, realized then how much Backes cared.

"One of my favorite 'Backs' stories was when we had practice at Scottrade and I remember he and Vladi got into a fight during practice," Shattenkirk said. "I know it caused a big stir and I think everyone was like, 'What the hell is going on here?' But the purpose of it really I think was what 'Backs' saw. He saw a young, really talented player who needed to also realize that the way to make it in this league was to work hard and not to take shortcuts in practice, do the right things day in and day out. I think Vladi recognized that as well. After the dust had settled and they both talked, realized how much 'Backs' cared and I think that's just something from me. He's always been someone as a hockey player that I could always count on as a player to give it his all and I think that I'm just forever grateful for it because when you're a young player coming into the league, you look to your leaders and you feed off the examples that they set and I think that's something that he did a great job showing me as a young player."

Pietrangelo added: "I think Shatty took the words out of my mouth. I couldn't agree more. What David's doing is exactly that. You have a player, a talented young player and I think if you talk to Vladi now, he's probably like, 'Yeah, David was right.' Shatty is right on point with what he said. David as a leader, that was his way of showing to not only Vladi, but everybody else on the team, myself and even Shatty at that point, Bergy, all those guys. We were all still fairly young. If you want to make it in this league, you've got to demand a lot from yourself every single day. You knew what you were getting from David day in, day out. Practice, game, you were going to get all of it, you were going to get a guy who loved being at the rink. He expected a lot from you as a teammate in the most respected way and I think it made all of us better players and better teammates."

For now, Backes said he wants to be a family man and husband to wife Kelly and their two kids, but does a future in the NHL interest him at all? Perhaps one day, but not right now. And should he ever want to call St. Louis home again, that door will remain open for an eternity.

"Would I like to coach? Coaching is kind of, to me, it's more travel and more time than when I was playing," Backes said. "In my ideal goal No. 1 is to be present with my family and my kids and then if I can stay in the game in some role that allows me to do that, that would be incredible and maybe a year or two down the line, but I do love the game and I'd love to be some sort of influence on a team setting because that's really what I relished as part of the game the most was that team setting and saying, 'Hey, it's me and my guys against you and your guys and we're going to win in whatever way we have to.' Maybe in time, but immediately, we're going to spend a year as a family, so thank you for that.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

David Backes (left), battling with Chicago's Jonathan Toews in 2014, closed

his NHL career with 460 of his 561 points with the Blues.

"We were back (in St. Louis) mid-August. (Former Cardinals pitcher) Kyle McLellan was having a charity event for his Brace for Impact organization that he does and just to see the welcoming we had at that event, and that was Cardinal-based. ... The moment at the Cardinals game when I signed with Boston in free agency, the ovation there, it really just drilled down if that connection and that 10 years there, connecting with the community, how much that mattered. We loved the city there. When we're there, it's like, 'We're back home.' And the people when we're there seemed to think that we never left and they embraced us like like we were still playing there. That is a special connection that is irreplaceable and that will be lasting. For me at least on my side, we will forever love St. Louis. Whether we end up back there or not, time will tell. It's a special place in our hearts and the people make it that way for sure."

Now all that's left is to get initiated into the illustrious Blues alumni group.

"I don't know what that entails," Backes said. "I'm hoping that it's not as rigorous as my initiation into the NHL, but if that's what it is, I'm willing to pay that price to join that group."

Parayko signs eight-year extension, passes on opportunity at free agency in 2022

Defenseman will be signed through 2029-30 season for $52 million 

($6.5 million AAV), could play out entire career for team that drafted him

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- Colton Parayko will likely play out his entire NHL career with one squad.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Colton Parayko could play out his entire NHL career with the Blues, who

drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft.

That determination will be made when he's 37 years old and it's not a given, but judging by the things of it and looking nine years down the road after the defenseman on Wednesday agreed to terms on an eight-year extension that will pay him $52 million ($6.5 million average annual value), a contract he signed on Thursday, the probability seems quite realistic.

"Yeah, for sure, that’s special, that’s really cool," Parayko said Thursday. "Obviously first year in the NHL Draft, I didn’t get drafted. Going into the second year, they took a chance on me. It’s pretty cool to obviously be with the team that took a chance on me. I'm looking forward to continuing this career in St. Louis. Not often a player gets the opportunity to do that. Everything's looking like that in the right direction. Hopefully everything goes well and we continue to be good and successful and a competitive team and I can spend all my years here in St. Louis."

Parayko, 28, had one year remaining on his current contract that pays him $5.5 million AAV for five years, and combined with the new extension, he will remain with the Blues through the 2029-30 season. He was slated to be an unrestricted free agent following this season.

It's the first time he passed on taking the chance to go through the UFA process. The first time, he gave up free agent years to gain more term on a five-year contract when he signed in 2017, and by the sounds of it, the UFA process was one that didn't interest him one iota. So he and the Blues quickly, within days, had a contract proposal on hand and put pen to paper on it quickly.

"I mean, it can be complicated," Parayko said of the free agency process. "I think for me personally, I just appreciate being in the same organization the whole time. Even for them, I guess, for this to kind of be approached at this time with one year left on my current deal, it's just nice to have that appreciation. It obviously goes to show what they think of me as a player. With that being said, it just makes me want to stay here and makes you want to be a St. Louis Blue and continue be a part of this team and continue to help it grow. I feel like being here six years, I’ve learned a lot, I’ve grown a lot, I've had a lot of great teammates who have brought me into this organization and showed me the ropes. I’d think it would be very cool if I got an opportunity to do that for other players that get to throw that Bluenote on. I just hope I can do the job some of these other guys have done in the past to kind of pass that on." 

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound St. Albert, Alberta native was selected by the Blues in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft and keeps him locked up for at least the next six seasons with Justin Faulk and Torey Krug, who also each are on $6.5 million AAV contracts. The three will be the core of the Blues' defense for the foreseeable future.

"It’s a great place to play and I think when you have a great team, you want to continue to be on a good team," Parayko said. "When you’re on a team that’s been winning, want obviously want to continue to win. It’s fun, it’s exciting. I think it makes coming to the rink that much better. ... I think having a fair deal is the best for everybody."

Parayko played in just 32 games a season ago dealing with a lingering back issue that did not require surgery. It's the looming question that will be asked as the years pass whether the Blues took a risk on a back that could go at any time or did they get a bargain by locking up a player, at his best and 100 percent healthy, could be a cornerstone player for years to come at a reasonable price.

"It's doing really good," Parayko said of his back. "Nice to have a little time off, little bit of treatment for it. Back and ready to run. It's exciting. I’m looking forward to getting this year going. Obviously last year was a little different for me personally. Didn’t really have many injury issues before that season. Just a little different for me to learn about myself, a little bit about my body because I've never been through that in a season when you're away from the team and stuff with injuries. I've been fortunate that way. Just happy it’s back and ready to go, back to normal and looking forward to just having more healthy seasons.

"Mainly just rest. A lot of rest and just building up the muscles around it, and building up just different things, just muscles that are going to help. I don’t know. It’s been a good summer. I think rest has just been really good for it and it’s feeling just as good as it ever has. Can't complain."

But with Parayko's mobility and ability to break up plays with his wing span and puck-moving capabilities, it was obvious he wasn't at 100 percent even when in the lineup. Fortunately, no surgery was necessary.

"I don’t know. It was obviously not great," Parayko said. "There was definitely ... kind of it wasn't great to play out there with it, but I was just trying to play for the team and be there, but at some point, it's just kind of looking forward. I hope I have many more healthy years ahead of me. I’m glad that it’s one of those things where I took care of it and now I’m ready to rock and roll.

"I don’t really know about surgeries. Luckily no need for that, we didn’t even have to get that far. We obviously kept that out as far away as possible. We wanted to make sure we took proper steps and make sure we started from the bottom and make sure we tackle it the right way. Luckily we didn’t have to continue to go further and further and get that far. That's good, but as of right now, I honestly feel just as good as I feel coming into any other season. To be honest, I would say, yes, it feels as good as it has and I’m ready to tackle this season with all the games."

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) signed an eight-year contract

extension that will keep him in St. Louis through 2029-30.

Parayko has played in 418 regular-season games (six seasons) and has 171 points (41 goals, 130 assists) along with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 70 Stanley Cup playoff games, helping the Blues win their first-ever Cup in 2019 playing a shutdown role with partner Jay Bouwmeester.

The Blues are hopeful and counting on him getting back to the pre-injury form, which they believe he will making this lengthy of an investment.

"Obviously it’s been an exciting week for sure," Parayko said. "I think just moving forward, I think and hope my career is still young. I'm looking forward to obviously continuing my career playing a long time. It’s on me now to make sure that I just continue to come to the rink each day, prepare myself properly and make sure I can play a long time. I look forward to it, all signs are pointing me in the right direction, so I'm definitely excited for that."

Barbashev agrees to terms on two-year contract

RFA avoids arbitration by coming to terms 

on $4.5 million contract, $2.25 million AAV

By LOU KORAC
ST LOUIS -- One of the Blues' restricted free agents is no more.

Ivan Barbashev

The team announced late Friday afternoon that forward Ivan Barbashev has agreed to terms on a two-year, $4.5 million contract ($2.25 million average annual value).

Barbashev, 25, was arbitration-eligible but signed two days after becoming a RFA; he has played in 270 games with the Blues and has 89 points (42 goals and 47 assists), including 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 38 games this past season.

The signing leaves the Blues with just over $6.33 million in available cap space remaining (for now) with contracts for forwards Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Zach Sanford and Dakota Joshua left on the docket.

There will be some alleviation there depending on when the Blues trade Vladimir Tarasenko and his $7.5 million cap hit, or however much they take back in salary, and a eighth defenseman, for now, is counted on the cap, according to cap friendly, but Klim Kostin, should be make the team, will have his $863,333 cap hit count. 

Of the remaining RFA's, Sanford is the only one arbitration-eligible.

The Blues padded their farm team in Springfield, Mass. on Friday when they signed defenseman Calle Rosen to a one-year, two-way contract ($700K NHL/$300K AHL) and defenseman Tommy Cross to a one-year, two-way contract ($750K NHL/$250K AHL).