The St. Louis Blues and Jaden Schwartz have agreed to terms on a five-year contract that will pay the 24-year-old just under $27 million per Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Schwartz was a restricted free agent prior to signing this long-term extension with St. Louis.
Report: Blues sign Schwartz to five-year deal, avoiding arbitration https://t.co/yfdydKRRWI
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) July 15, 2016
Schwartz missed most of the 2015-16 regular season due to injury, limiting him to just 33 games. In that time, he still managed to score eight goals and 22 points along with a plus-8 rating. The former first-round draft pick also skated in 20 playoff games with the Blues last season, tallying four goals and 14 points.
This new contract is very well deserved by Schwartz given his high-level of play over the last few seasons when he was healthy. In 2013-14, Schwartz played in 80 games and scored 25 goals and 56 points while sporting a plus-28 rating. In the following season, he played in 75 games, scoring 28 goals and 63 points and had a plus-13 rating. 25 goal scorers are always in demand in the NHL, especially 24-year-olds who have accomplished that feat. twice in his first two full-length seasons.
The Blues will be sporting a much different lineup next season after losing former captain David Backes, and Patrick Berglund this off-season, but Schwartz’ return will be a welcome one in St. Louis.