Defenseman to receive $1.6 million, $800,000 average annual value on one-way contract

ST. LOUIS -- Matthew Kessel's early impressions in the NHL continue to rise.

And in doing so, the defenseman will move forward playing under a one-way contract when the St. Louis Blues announced on Wednesday afternoon an agreement on a two-year, one-way contract extension worth $1.6 million ($800,000 average annual value).

"It's exciting to get that deal," Kessel said after a 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. "Exciting for my family and I. To keep growing with this organization, it's great." 

Kessel's entry into the NHL thus far has done quite smoothly; he made his debut on April 3, 2023 against the Boston Bruins when he played two games last season; he's played in 23 games this season and has three assists, including picking up one in a 5-1 win against the Bruins on Monday.

"That was a goal of mine to earn a one-way contract when I got drafted here," Kessel said. "That was one of the goals at the beginning of the season to get called up from Springfield and prove that I can play in this league and earn that deal. It's great.

"I've been growing my game (in Springfield). I think those games in the AHL helped with that to be able to show what I can do down there and just continue to play my game up here."

But Kessel, who is in the second year of a two-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract, will now have the luxury of likely being on the NHL roster moving forward. His play has certainly made an impact on veteran Torey Krug, and the two have been a solid pairing.

"Obviously with the injury to [Justin] Faulk, bringing him up and then putting them together, they seem to have some chemistry and we saw that again last night," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said Tuesday. "Sometimes that just happens. Guys play well off each other and they read off each other. They seem to have a good fit and comfortable to play off each other. They've had success together."

Kessel was sent down to Springfield after playing against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 24 but was recalled again on Sunday and had a solid game against the Bruins with an assist and a plus-2 in 13:45.

"I thought 'Kess' played really well," Bannister said. "I've always liked having righty-lefty. At the end of the day, you want to have your best players on the ice. We thought 'Kess' came in last night coming off, he played two games in three nights, so that was three in four. He played the way we saw him play when he was here with us. I thought he kept things simple, he was physical around his net, he was physical around the boards, transported pucks. I thought he had a real strong game for us."

To be able to earn a one-way contract this early into his NHL career speaks volumes to the growth of Kessel's game.

"Yeah very impressive," Bannister said. "You seen tonight again the minutes that he played, hard minutes and physical. Everything that we like about him as a player, certainly an outstanding kid. He's somebody that I think is going to continue to grow and be better."