Forward gets $3.75 million average annual value, could have become restricted free agent at end of 2024-25 season coming off career-high 27 goals

ST. LOUIS -- Jake Neighbours and the St. Louis Blues  put the immediate future to rest when the 22-year-old signed a two-year, $7.5 million extension ($3.75 million average annual value) on Tuesday.

The contract will pay Neighbours $3.5 million in 2025-26 and $4 million in 2026-27.

The forward could have become a restricted free agent after the 2024-25 season but instead has himself a nice bridge deal playing out the final year of his entry-level contract.

"I think it kind puts it out of my head not to think about it," Neighbours said after the morning skate prior to facing the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. "It was a real easy process, it went really quickly. As soon as contact was made, it was a quick deal. It’s exciting for me."

Neighbours is coming off a career year in which he scored 27 goals (38 points) in 77 games; he has three points (two goals, one assist) in six games this season and is part of the future for the franchise.

When teammates learned of the contract, Mathieu Joseph offered congratulations with water squirted down the back of Neighbours' neck during an interview scrum, Dylan Holloway and Robert Thomas each offered congratulatory hugs and coach Drew Bannister came in with a hug and handshake.

"I love it here," Neighbours said. "I love the city, love my teammates and the direction this organization is going in. I think I fit in pretty well here. I enjoy playing for the Blues. It was a no-brainer to extend.

"I think it just kind of free’s your mind. Obviously you’re not thinking about it. It can be an added stress on you as a player on your contract year. For me, it was exciting. It puts it out of my head. I can just focus on playing hockey now and get to be a Blue for two more years. Very excited."

What it also does is, as in the words of Bannister, put to rest the conspiracy theorists that had the Blues being targets for restricted free agents next summer after they poached two of them [Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway] from the Edmonton Oilers this past summer.

"Excited for him. Well deserved," Bannister said. "It can kind of put away some of the conspiracy theories that were going around, so good for us.

"He’s going to continue to build on his game. I think we’ve seen everything that he does and does at this level and the understanding from him of what he needs to do to have success. I think you’ve seen that over the last two games. The work has always been there, it will always be there for him, but playing direct and scoring two big goals for us the last two games, that’s the player he is."

Neighbours has 53 points (36 goals, 17 assists) in 135 games with the Blues, who drafted him with the No. 26 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.