The St. Louis Blues make one of the first strikes in NHL free agency, signing former Maple Leaf Tyler Bozak to a three-year deal.
For the first time in his professional career, Tyler Bozak will be playing for a team not named the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Canadian center will be going to the gateway city of St. Louis and joining the St. Louis Blues who are looking to build their offense back up. After a touch and go season that was more go than touch, the Blues needed a good top six forward.
Tyler Bozak gets a three-year deal from St. Louis with a $5M AAV.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2018
Bozak can definitely help fill a possible top line between Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen. The Blues definitely feel that way considering they have decided to throw a lot of money at him. Bozak’s three-year deal will include a $5 million average annual value!
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The Blues have yet to raise the Stanley Cup in their 50-year history. Hopefully, this much money will not stop them from rounding out their lineup. The Blues have been active today, signing David Perron earlier. He got a four-year deal worth $4 million annually.
What it might do however is take them out of the conversation with the Buffalo Sabres. There have been reports of the Blues being willing to trade for Ryan O’Reilly from the Sabres. But now that it seems that they have found their top line center, perhaps those conversations did not end the way they expected?
Bozak has proven he can be productive. But he needs to be sheltered. Can the Blues afford to give him that kind of deployment?
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It’s a lot of speculation right now what this signing could mean. The St.Louis Blues are definitely looking to shorten their rebuild and get back into the playoffs with guys like Tarasenko. Will Bozark really give them the best shot at going all the way? Only time will tell.
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