The St. Louis Blues have signed (from left to right) forward Matt Luff, defenseman Hunter Skinner and goalie Vadim Zherenko each to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. (St. Louis Blues photo) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0a489c4a-44b9-4c8a-83bf-f22bb892ce68.jpeg] The St. Louis Blues have signed (from left to right) forward Matt Luff, defenseman Hunter Skinner and goalie Vadim Zherenko each to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. (St. Louis Blues photo) ST. LOUIS -- Three St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis] prospects that were restricted free agents are restricted no more. The team announced on Monday they have signed forward Matt Luff ($775,000 NHL/$400,000 AHL), defenseman Hunter Skinner ($775,000 NHL/$125,000 AHL), and goaltender Vadim Zherenko ($775,000 NHL/$125,000 AHL) each to a one-year, two-way contract. The interesting one was the 28-year-old Luff, who was on an AHL contract last season but put up terrific numbers with Springfield last season (45 points; 18 goals, 27 assists in 50 games) after being loaned from Charlotte but now gets a contract with the NHL organization. Luff last played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings [http://thn.com/detroit] (19 games; two goals, two assists) in 2022-23. The 24-year-old Skinner, acquired along with Sammy Blais and two picks on Feb. 9, 2023 from the New York Rangers [http://thn.com/rangers] for Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola, played in 71 games with the Thunderbirds last season and had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists). Zherenko, 24, dressed in 32 games with the Thunderbirds last season and was 12-17-5 with a 3.44 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. There was some thought initially that he would be heading overseas to play in Europe this season but apparently has had a change of heart. With the signings, that leaves just leaves forward Nikita Alexandrov, who is a RFA, as the lone player in the organization without a contract. The Blues did not tender qualifying offers to forward Tanner Dickinson and defenseman Anton Malmstrom. Forward Mikhail Abramov is also a RFA and the Blues own his rights but is playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL.
