Reports out of St. Louis indicate that forward Vladimir Sobotka will be returning to the St. Louis Blues for the 2016-17 season. The forward left the team following an arbitration ruling in 2014, and spent the last two seasons with Avangard Omsk in the KHL. The Blues “tolled” his contract, and as such he will play out the one-year owed to the Blues this season. Sobotka can become an unrestricted free agent next July.
#stlblues GM Doug Armstrong says he spoke to Sobotka’s agent today and he is coming back to the club.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 8, 2016
Report: Vladimir Sobotka to Return to St. Louis Blues
Over two seasons, and 97 regular season games in his KHL stint, Sobotka recorded 28 goals and 72 points. He also added four points through six playoff games with Omsk. The now 28-year-old had signed a three-year deal with the team, but has excercised an option to void the final season.
In 2013-14, his last NHL season, Sobotka had 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 71 games. In seven NHL seasons with the Blues, and the Boston Bruins, Sobotka has scored 35 goals and 88 assists for 123 total points in 381 career games.
The Boston Bruins drafted Sobotka in the 4th round, 106th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft.
He will play the upcoming season under the 2014 arbitration award of a one-year contract worth $2.725 million. He joins a Blues team that has lost David Backes and Troy Brouwer as free agents this summer, and is a valuable addition to the team’s forward depth.
Main Photo:
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 23: Vladimir Sobotka #17 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Consol Energy Center on March 23, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
