Blues sign Pavel Buchnevich to four-year, $23.2 million deal after breakout season

The St. Louis Blues didn't acquire the rights to forward Pavel Buchnevich just to allow him to leave this summer. 

Per the NHL's website, Buchnevich and the Blues agreed to a four-year, $23.2 million contract that carries an average annual value of $5.8 million. St. Louis landed the 26-year-old from the New York Rangers this past Friday in exchange for forward Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round draft selection, but Buchnevich could've become a restricted free agent Wednesday. 

That's no longer a concern. 

The Rangers drafted Buchnevich in 2013, and he only played with New York across his first 301 career NHL regular-season games. In 2020-21, he recorded 20 goals and 28 assists for a career-best 48 points in 54 contests.

"I'm excited to have Pavel join our group," St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong explained. "... He's got good size at 6-3. He is a left shot, can play the right side. He's scored in the league recently. He's 26 years old. ... A very good penalty killer too, a very underrated penalty killer. So he's going to touch all aspects of our game and he's at a good age as we continue to retool this roster, and I think he's a good piece for us."

According to The Athletic, the Blues still have roughly $13 million in salary-cap space following Tuesday's development.