Blues Sign Ross Johnston To Three-Year, $6 million Contract

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Blues Sign Ross Johnston To Three-Year, $6 million Contract

Lou Korac

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Updated Jul 1, 2026, 20:40

Forward brings grit, toughness to bottom lineup of forwards

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues made their first official unrestricted free agency signing (outside of their own players) when they signed forward Ross Johnston to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2 million average annual value).

The 32-year-old spent the past three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks; last season, he had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 62 regular-season games. Johnston also appeared in five postseason games for Anaheim.

At 6-foot-5, 232-pounds, Johnston provides grit and toughness to the fourth line, someone who is a worthy and willing player to drop the gloves, a needed element to this lineup.

"Johnston obviously brings a presence," Blues general manager Alex Steen said. "He's an element that we haven't had here in St. Louis in a long time. That presence is both on and off the ice. He brings it in the locker room, he holds players accountable. I think it's a move offensively we're trying to get a little bit more on the inside and create a net front presence. That's another element that he brings.

"Defensively, he's very organized, he competes two ways on the puck and we're looking forward to adding him."

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Johnston has played in 307 regular-season NHL games, including stints with the New York Islanders and the Ducks and has 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) and 579 penalty minutes.

"We did our due diligence," Steen said. "'Crow' (assistant coach Greg Cronin). ... We were excited about the overall package. He is a guy that team cameraderie and things of that nature, holding people accountable, having an identity, it's very important to him, and he brings a certain level of presence in the locker room as well as he does on the ice. He's an exciting add."

Johnston becomes the second Duck to join the Blues in the past week after St. Louis traded for Mason McTavish on Friday.

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