Winger would have been UFA on Monday, returns for third season in St. Louis
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The first bid of business for the St. Louis Blues on the opening of free agency is bringing back a familiar name.
As the league was busy shelling out millions of dollars to top-tiered free agents, the Blues made a modest move in bringing back forward Kasperi Kapanen on a one-year, $1 million contract.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said last week he was allowing the team's potential UFA's to hit the market but also felt like they could circle back to any one them if the it makes sense.
Kapanen, who just finished up a two-year, $6.4 million contract that the Blues picked up when they claimed the 27-year-old on waivers late in the 2022-23 season, is coming off a year in which he had 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 73 games and has 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 96 games with the Blues.
There will be more should the Blues do something on else on Monday or in the coming days but safe to say they were not going to dive into some of the lengthy-termed contracts doled out, especially to players that are already 30-plus.
