The Blues signed forward Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract on Saturday morning, as the club signed its last remaining restricted free agent.
Alexandrov will make the minimum $775,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of at least $350,000.
Alexandrov turns 25 in September and spent all of last season in the AHL with Springfield, posting 49 points in 48 games. In his last three AHL seasons, Alexandrov has 94 points in 96 games.
When his contract expires, Alexandrov will become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent unless he plays in 29 NHL games this season. In order to qualify as a Group 6 UFA, a player must have their contract expire, be at least 25 years old, played at least three professional seasons, and played fewer than 80 games.
Alexandrov enters the fall with 51 NHL games played. If Alexandrov plays in 29 games this season, he will be a RFA again next summer.
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The former second-round pick will go into training camp with an outside chance at cracking the NHL roster. There is at least one job available in the bottom six (third-line right wing or fourth line center appear up for grabs), and Alexandrov figures to battle players like Mathieu Joseph, Alexandre Texier and Dalibor Dvorksy for a role.
The Blues took care of their bigger-name RFAs earlier, signing goaltender Joel Hofer before the draft and extending Jake Neighbours early last season.
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