The Blues have signed winger Pavel Buchnevich to a six-year extension value $8M per season, the staff announced.
Buchnevich, who was set to be a UFA after the 2024-25 season, will as an alternative stay in St. Louis by way of the 2030-31 marketing campaign. The deal features a full no-trade clause by way of 2028-29 earlier than downgrading to a modified no-trade clause within the remaining two years, Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland stories. They’ve additionally upgraded Buchnevich’s 12-team no-trade checklist within the remaining 12 months of his present deal to a full no-trade clause. It’s a 20-team no-trade checklist in 2029-30 and a 15-team no-trade checklist in 2030-31, Matthew DeFranks of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch stories.
Buchnevich stays beneath contract at a $5.8M cap hit this season, the ultimate one among a four-year extension he signed again in 2021 after the Blues acquired his signing rights from the Rangers. The 29-year-old is coming off a considerably disappointing marketing campaign, posting 27 objectives and 63 factors in 80 video games. The totals are consistent with what he’s produced the previous few years, however he additionally stayed more healthy, that means he was considerably much less productive on a per-game foundation. Buchnevich clicked at over some extent per recreation over his first two years in a St. Louis uniform.
Locking up Buchnevich long-term places him on observe to run out alongside Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas in 2031. It’s clear that if the Blues intend to contend for a championship with their present core, it’ll occur by then. He turns into the fourth ahead signed previous 2026, becoming a member of the aforementioned duo and Brayden Schenn.
The Blues hope {that a} rebound to point-per-game kind from Buchnevich, elevated improvement from 2020 first-round decide Jake Neighbours, and stable contributions from depth offseason provides Radek Faksa, Mathieu Joseph, and Alexandre Texier will help revitalize an offense that solely managed 239 objectives final season, twenty fourth within the league. With a full season of Drew Bannister behind the bench, who guided them to a 30-19-5 file as interim final season, they’ll look to shut the six-point hole that separated them from a playoff spot.
Buchnevich’s latest damage troubles are one thing to make a minor word of. His 80 video games performed final 12 months have been a career-high, coming after lacking important time with a recurring ankle damage in 2022-23. They’re hoping his considerably disappointing 12 months offensively is extra a results of an offseason that was spent recuperating — one thing he gained’t need to cope with this summer time after a wholesome marketing campaign.
The deal will cowl the rest of Buchnevich’s prime, taking him by way of his age-35 season. The Russian winger has by no means examined the open market in his profession and gained’t accomplish that till its twilight.