Blues Sign Two-Year Deal With Tkachuk

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today the team has signed center Keith Tkachuk.

“We are excited to be able to bring a player of Keith’s caliber back to the St. Louis Blues,” said Davidson. “Keith played great hockey under Head Coach Andy Murray last season and we are thrilled to have him wearing the Bluenote again.”

The Blues traded Tkachuk to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a first round draft choice in 2007, a third round draft choice in 2007, a second round draft choice in 2008 and forward Glen Metropolit on Feb. 25, 2007.

Tkachuk, 35, had 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 61 games with the Blues at the time of the trade. He ranked second on the club in goals and points, while leading the club with eight power-play goals and 92 penalty minutes before being sent to the Thrashers. He finished last season with 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) and reached the 50-point plateau for the 12th time in 15 seasons.

The 6-2, 225-pound center has twice been named to the NHL Second All-Star Team (1995 and 1998) and played in the NHL All-Star Game four times (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004). Tkachuk is 27 goals shy of reaching the 500 goal mark and needs 24 games to reach 1,000. He has amassed 926 career points (473 goals, 453 assists) and 2,033 penalty minutes in 976 NHL games with Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis and Atlanta.

The Medford, Massachusetts native has represented the United States in six different international competitions, including the 1992, 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in 2002. He also played in the 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey, helping the United States win the championship in 1996.

Tkachuk was originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, 19th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

[Colt Seavers]

He's good for another 50-60 pts as well as maybe a few scraps. I hope he makes up for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft picks the Blues gave up for him.

[ChickenSwede]

Originally Posted by rjman48

I hope he makes up for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft picks the Blues gave up for him.

???

"26-Jun-07: Atlanta Thrashers traded Keith Tkachuk and a conditional 4th round selection in 2008 to the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 1st round selection in 2008."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/...name=nhl-blues

[Colt Seavers]

Originally Posted by ChickenSwede

???

"26-Jun-07: Atlanta Thrashers traded Keith Tkachuk and a conditional 4th round selection in 2008 to the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 1st round selection in 2008."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/...name=nhl-blues

Correct-my bad-The Blues traded Tkachuk to the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday, getting forward Glen Metropolit, a first-round draft pick in 2007 and two other picks in return.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2779078

win/win situation for St. Louis!

[BGDDYKWL]

Word is it's an $8 million deal paying him $3.5 mil this year and $4.5 mil next.

[Snipes19]

I like this signing for the Blues. Tkachuk is a good player, and we got him at a reasonable cost. It was smart for JD to bring him back, because he will only make us better. He will put up 30 goals and 60 points, and he's a big body to place in front of the net on the powerplays. For 3.5 million this year, I'll take that any day of the week. And since Tkachuk wanted more money than 7 million over 2 years, it was smart by JD to give him more in 2008 instead of this coming season, because we will have more money and more roster space then.

Now that we have Tkachuk locked up, we just need to focus on signing ONE top flight scorer in free agency, and we have the money, so it will be eaiser for JD to go after him (I'm hoping it's Kariya).

Tomorrow along with the next few days will be very exciting in the NHL.

[DaveBrown69]

Always been a Tkachuk fan. He is getting older but he still fights, hits and scores. The Blues should do well with him.

[canuck2]

I guess the Blues dont want to make it out of the first round in the next two years.

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by canuck2

I guess the Blues dont want to make it out of the first round in the next two years.

Well the Blues haven't made the playoffs in the last two years, so right now we need to focus on actually making them instead of getting far. One step at a time - we're building a new team. Plus, Tkachuk won't be the only goal scorer we will add, so who knows how we would do in the playoffs. He will still help us in the regular season, so I'll take that.

[bengino]

i'm actually thinking that this is slightly overpaying, but then again, tihs is pro sports they will always be overspent in my opinion.

[Isles4life]

The salary numbers seem realistic given the market.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

And a screwy market it is becoming too. Good signing IMO. Don't know about Kariya as being a top flite scorer anymore, but he can still snipe on occasion as is pretty good on the shootouts.