St. Louis Blues and T. J. Oshie avoid arbitration as they sign a new five-year deal
T. J. Oshie signed a new five-year deal with St. Louis Blues to avoid an arbitration hearing on Friday. The deal was signed on Thursday night, just a night before the arbitration hearing. Oshie had decided to go to arbitration to get his salary increased,
along with 15 other players on 4th July 2012.
But both parties opted to settle the issue outside court.
The five-year contract is worth $20.875 million, which means $4.175 million every year, that is much more than Oshie’s last contract, which was $2.35 million for one year. This is the third contract that American center/right winger has signed with St. Louis
Blues; his entry-level contract was $2.55 million for three years.
General Manager of the St. Louis Blues, Doug Armstrong, is excited to have Oshie at the time when he is at his prime and so happy that, he has that player which was key member of his team last season. Armstrong said,
"We're obviously excited to have T.J. under contract as he enters the prime of his career and to know that we'll have him through that portion. It's very rewarding and we think he's a big piece of our team from last year and he's a big piece moving forward."
Sarnia, Ontario born former general manager of Dallas Stars also added that,
"Arbitration is just a tool that both sides have available to them. It's just a piece of the process. We exchange briefs and we get an idea where each side is coming from. I think everyone's comfortable with the business side of it that you try not to have
any hangover of emotion based on an arbitration hearing”.
25-year-old, Oshie was drafted 24th overall by St. Louis Blues in the first round of 2005 NHL draft. But he kept on playing for his University of Dakota in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCA) for next three years, before making a debut
in NHL for St. Louis Blues in 2008-2009 season.
Mount Vernon, Washington born, forward scored 14 goals, 25 assists, total 39 points in the first season, showed even better performance in next season by scoring 18 goals, 30 assists, 48 points in the second season but suffered an injury in the third season
which let him play just 49 games. Last season was his best considering points scored as he scored 19 goals, 35 assists to score total of 54 points.
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