{"id":1026,"date":"2016-09-13T07:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T11:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=1026"},"modified":"2016-09-13T15:35:39","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T19:35:39","slug":"alexander-steen-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/09\/13\/alexander-steen-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Steen’s Future With The St. Louis Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take a look at any successful team and there’s always a mix of the young and the old.\u00a0After an off-season filled with quite a few changes, there is one noticeable player still in the St. Louis Blues<\/strong> locker room. That player is Alexander Steen<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The 32-year-old Canadian\/Swedish dual national has one year left on his current deal with the Blues. Just like any player north of 30, the contracts become shorter and the money tends to slim down. Just what does the future hold for Steen? Yet another fan favorite could be on their way out next summer.<\/p>\n

Alexander Steen’s Future With The St. Louis Blues<\/h2>\n

Steen Slated for a Raise in 2016-17<\/h3>\n

Before even taking Steen’s on ice play into account, one has to look at his current contract. With only one year remaining on his three-year deal, Steen’s pay is at its maximum this season. Per generalfanager.com<\/a>, the term was three years for a total of $17.4 million. Breaking down the actual numbers it’s an AAV of $5.8 million\u00a0per year, though one aspect of the Steen deal many may not have noticed is the real salary actually bumps up to $6.5 million for the 2016-17 campaign.<\/p>\n

It’s a hefty contract for a player of his age but if point production doesn’t take a dive it should not cause an uproar. What may draw some eyes though is just where the money may go after\u00a0this season. Does Steen see himself as a player past his prime and not worthy of a final big contract? The term big is relative, but for both sides to be happy one would have to imagine\u00a0a large cap hit is not in the cards.<\/p>\n

Steen’s Recent Surgery<\/h3>\n

How well Steen recovers from recent\u00a0shoulder surgery will be a major factor in\u00a0the final price tag. The operation itself took place in early June, and the original timetable for recovery was four to six months. But there is a bright spot to this news. During an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch<\/a> in late August, General Manager Doug Armstrong<\/strong> did say Steen was ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n

“He looks like he’s in great shape, he’s ahead of schedule, and we’re hoping he’s ready for game one” Armstrong said.<\/p>\n

If true, that is a great sign. The current Blues\u00a0GM hasn’t been\u00a0one to rush players in the past. If opening night\u00a0ends up being a little too soon, Steen likely is not too far past that. Skipping the World Cup of Hockey\u00a0may have been the best thing for him, allowing plenty of time to recover.<\/p>\n

\n

All signs point towards Alexander Steen being ahead of schedule following off season shoulder surgery….great news #stlblues<\/a><\/p>\n

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) September 4, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n