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BUFFALO, NY – Always stung by the Blues who missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, General Manager Doug Armstrong crowned a major overhaul on the first day of the NHL free period by acquiring the center Ryan O & # 39; Reilly in the multiplayer trade with the Buffalo Sabers.
In addition to disembarking a nine-year veteran at O & # 39; Reilly on Sunday, St. Louis has committed $ 31 million salary to hire David Perron and Tyler Bozak Center to multi-year contracts. "Once you miss the playoffs, the change has to happen," said Armstrong. "We are a non-playoff team for the first time in a number of years and this does not fit well with the St. Louis Blues organization, and certainly with the fans."
The Blues have abandoned quite a few commercially active people for the talented Sabers center. How did St. Louis finally get the better of this affair?
We keep track of all signatures and notable transactions throughout the off season, along with a signature tracker and expert notes.
Drastic changes were also discussed in Buffalo, where general manager Jason Botterill continued to beat the underperforming squad of a team that finished last in the standings for the third time in five years.
"We had to change dynamics" Botterill said, "At the end of the day, there are a lot of great people in this locker room, but when you finish the 31st, you have to make some changes."
Sabers added experience to a young squad by acquiring veteran strikers Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund, and they also got ahead of Tagus Thompson, a first-round pick of 2016, which has collected three goals and six badists in 41 games as an NHL rookie this season last year
Buffalo completed his draft in the first round the following year and a second round in 2021.
Les Bleus also agreed to pay O & # 39; Reilly the $ 7.5 million premium that was due to him at the end of the day
Botterill said the price for O & # 39; Reilly would be "
Berglund, a former first round pick, has 168 goals and 322 points in 694 games in the Bear of a 10-year career in St. Louis. Sobotka is a defensive forward with 47 goals and 155 points in 463 career games in nine seasons.
Trade continues to be very active in Botterill's reconstruction plans.
In addition to 18 – year – old Swedish defender Rasmus Dahlin He also acquired striker Conor Sheary during an exchange with Pittsburgh last week.
On Sunday, the Sabers responded to their needs by signing a contract with the Blues. Hutton will participate in a $ 8.25-million triennial agreement
Hutton will share starting positions with Linus Ullmark, who is credited with making the jump to Buffalo after three seasons in the minors.
O 'Reilly was expendable because it was one of the few badets that the Sabers could trade. And it also caused a sensation at an end-of-season availability in which O & # 39; Reilly suggested that there were times when he had lost the pbadion for hockey, and noted that he was not happy. a lost culture had slipped into the locker room.
Armstrong is Confident O & # 39; Reilly
"I've certainly been guilty of saying things that I thought and I did not want to say it, he would probably add that to the list of things that he was doing. he could have had, "said Armstrong, who knows O. Reilly well during the time he spent together in Canada's national team at international tournaments.
" He has a great pbadion for sport and wins, "he added. "And I hope this will give him the boost that he believes is needed so that he can come here and honestly, we need that boost."
O. Reilly completed his third season in Buffalo since his acquisition in a trade with Colorado, after which the Sabers signed him a seven-year, $ 52.5 million deal. He set the NHL record by winning 1,273 face-offs last year
Perron returns to St. Louis for the third time in his NHL career after signing for $ 16 million out of four years. He spent last season in Las Vegas, where he set highs with 50 badists and 66 points.
Bozak, who signed a $ 15 million three-year contract with St. Louis, spent his nine seasons in Toronto. scored 136 goals and 365 points in 594 games.
"You bring Ryan O'Reilly, and you bring Perron and Bozak, you experience players, I think it's better," said Armstrong
. designated guardian Scott Wedgewood, who is expected to take over the functions of departure for minors.
Striker Scott Wilson returned to Buffalo by signing a two-year contract of $ 2.1 million. He signed a week after Buffalo chose not to extend Wilson's offer to retain his rights because the team wanted to avoid the possibility of his contract being arbitrated.
The Sabers also signed hopes defender Brandon Hickey for a two-year period. Hickey's level contract has completed his senior season at Boston University, and was acquired by Buffalo in commerce with Arizona last month.
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