St. Louis Blues re-sign T.J. Oshie to five-year, $20.875 million contract -NHL Update
Better late than never in this situation for sure as St. Louis Blues avoided going into arbitration by re-signing top-level right winger, T.J. Oshie to a five-year, $20.875 million contract on Friday, July 20, 2012.
Oshie wanted to remain in the city of St. Louis without a doubt and had been advocating his want ever since the player was set to become a restricted free agent after his one-year, $2.35 million came to an end earlier in July.
St. Louis Blues’ general manager, Doug Armstrong, made the announcement.
"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," GM Armstrong said. "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."
Oshie, after signing the contract, could be seen to be having trouble holding in his excitement.
"It's great. I couldn't be any happier to re-sign with the Blues," Oshie said. "It's where I've grown as a player and as a pro. As far as the long-term security goes, it's something that I've never had in my career. It's nice to have that security, but I
still want to keep getting better every day and definitely every year."
For both sides, arbitration did not come as something that was triggered by a gesture of being against one another but instead, it is a tool that teams and players use all the time in order to get another opinion. GM Doug Armstrong was of the same opinion
as he termed the arbitration hearing, set for the same day, to be one which was to be a last resort option.
Oshie did not have a doubt in his mind about re-signing with the St. Louis Blues but had always been told by his agent to not throw away any other offers he might have. They should always be kept as a backup, but now, Oshie will not need them for at least
five seasons.
The 25-year-old had 54 points (19 goals, 35 assists) last season in 80 games played.
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