Vladimir Sobotka signs three-year contract with Blues

Forward Vladimir Sobotka signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Sobotka, who has played the past three seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, will join the Blues for their game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-MW, NHL.TV).
"It's certainly nice to have that behind us," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "We had hoped it wouldn't get to that point three years ago, but we tried to stay in contact to make sure we didn't fray the relationship and I think that paid off this time when we were able to bring him back."

Sobotka will fulfill the one-year, $2.725 million contract he signed in 2014-15. The new contract, which will begin next season, has an average annual value of $3.5 million and runs through 2019-20.
"Interestingly, he knows probably half the guys on the team, but he doesn't know the coaches," Armstrong said. "So it's going to be a whole new environment that he's walking into and I think that's really good. I know [coach Mike Yeo] is excited about having him. [Yeo] remembers competing against him and I think that's the type of player that all coaches want to have."
The 29-year-old last played in the NHL in 2013-14 for the Blues, finishing with 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 61 games. Sobotka has 123 points (35 goals, 88 assists) in 381 games for the Blues and Boston Bruins, and 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 40 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"It was a difficult three years, but at the end of the day, he's back here, he's still in a really strong part of his career and we're excited to have him," Armstrong said.
Sobotka had 102 points (37 goals, 65 assists) in 138 KHL games.