Veteran defenseman gets league minimum with chance to make up to an additional $2.25 million in performance bonuses

ST. LOUIS -- The glutton on defense just got thicker for the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues have agreed to terms with veteran 39-year-old defenseman Ryan Suter to a one-year contract for the league minimum of $775,000 with the chance to make up to another $2.225  million in performance bonuses.

Suter spent the past three seasons with the Dallas Stars, including the 2023-24 season when he had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 82 regular-season games and four points (one goal, three assists) in 19 postseason games.

But he was bought out by the Stars last month with one year remaining on his contract. He is owed $783,333 this season and $1,433,333 next season as part of his buyout. Oh and let's not forget, he was also bought out of his contract by the Minnesota Wild, who bought out Suter's 13-year, $98 million contract prior to the 2021022 season and still owe him $7,371,795 this season and $833,333 each of the next three seasons. 

The Blues signed P.O. Joseph to a one-year contract last week giving them eight defensemen on the roster and Suter gives them nine on one-way contracts, including Colton Parayko, Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, Scott Perunovich, Matthew Kessel and Tyler Tucker.

It's an interesting decision and means there could be other dominoes to fall at some point with the plethora of d-men on the NHL roster.

Suter was originally drafted seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Draft that has spanned a 19-year career with Nashville, Wild and Stars.

The three-time NHL All-Star and 2013 First Team All-Star has 681 points (105 goals, 576 assists) in 1,444 regular-season games as well as 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) in 133 postseason appearances.

He currently ranks first among active defensemen in career games played, sixth in points, 15th in goals, is tied for third in assists, ninth in penalty minutes, and 13th in plus-minus (plus 120).