TJ Oshie Signs with St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are reporting that TJ Oshie has agreed to terms on a five-year contract that will keep him in the Gateway to the West, thus allowing him to avoid furthering the process of arbitration. Oshie has already confirmed the deal on his Twitter (note that you need to highlight the text for it to be readable because of his profile’s design):

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/OSH74/status/226154766877728769″]

Specific details have not yet been released, except to report that his contract is worth about $4.175 million a year.

This agreement comes literally right in the nick of time–Oshie was scheduled to have his arbitration hearing on July 20.

Oshie, who was drafted 24th overall by St. Louis in 2005, has never played anywhere else, aside from college hockey at the University of North Dakota. In four seasons with the Blues, the center has played in 262 games, scored 63 goals and added 112 assists for 175 points total. He’s also appeared in 13 Blues playoff games (2008-09 and 2011-12) and put up three assists. Plus, he’s represented Team USA at two different World Championships, 2009 and 2010, though America did not medal in either year.

He’s coming off of a career-high season in terms of goals, assists and points (19-35-54) that was part of a breakthrough season for St. Louis. The hiring of Jack Adams-winning coach Ken Hitchcock brought the team out of the basement of the Western Conference, saw them win the Central Division for the first time in years and embark on their longest playoff run since 2001-02.