St. Louis Blues give Chris Stewart one-year, $3 million extension -NHL Update
Looks like St. Louis Blues have also kicked off their offseason team reorganisation as the franchise announced signing Chris Stewart to a one year, $3 million contract extension on Thursday, June 14, 2012.
His improvement during the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and being a major factor in the Blues best season in franchise history was one of the biggest reasons that St. Louis wanted to keep Stewart on board.
Chris Stewart was hoping for a 30-goal-plus season but unfortunately, his and the team’s expectations did not materialise. This past season was seen to be a benchmark for the player but with a new contract, it seems like the team is giving him one more year
to make the cut.
St. Louis Blues general manager, Doug Armstrong, has always supported Stewart and still believes he will emerge as one of the best in due time.
"This is a huge year for Chris Stewart, not only as a St. Louis Blue but as an NHL hockey player," Armstrong said. "He's a player at (age) 22 and 23 had 28 goals in this league. It's a difficult goal-scoring league. He didn't have a season that he had hoped
to have, or we expected him to have. But I don't think it would be wise for us to throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Trading him was seen to be one of the options that St. Louis had on the table prior to signing him but the club, instead went toward re-signing.
"The easiest thing is to trade someone or make a change, but you better bring someone in more competent than the one you're leaving. I believe 'Stewy' has a chance to be what he wants to be and now it's up to him to become that,” Armstrong added.
Chris Stewart, a 24-year-old right winger, was picked up by Colorado Avalanche as the 18th overall player during round-one of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and spent nearly three seasons with his original team before being traded to St. Louis Blues.
He has 271 games under his belt with 166 points (82 goals, 84 assists).
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