"I think that's what all of us players want," Hoffman said Monday, the first day of on-ice activity at training camp. "You want to win. I think this team has a great opportunity to do so. They did so a couple years ago (2018), and I think the depth on this team is tremendous. I think they've got a very good shot of going all the way again."
Hoffman, an unrestricted free agent forward, scored 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 69 games with the Florida Panthers last season. He said signing the PTO was important because it got him into training camp and helps him get ready for the regular season. The PTO allows Hoffman to sign with any NHL team.
"This year probably more than any season, you don't want to miss out on a training camp as shortened as it is and no exhibition games," Hoffman said. "If you did miss camp or fall behind the eight ball a little bit, especially with a shortened season, you want to get off and start off on a good foot. I think this was the best opportunity and the chance that I have.
"I knew St. Louis always had a good club and was kind of one of the teams on my radar coming into free agency]. Anything could happen, there's different possibilities, but this was the one that we thought was the best fit and best opportunity."
***[RELATED: [St. Louis Blues season preview]
The Blues are scheduled to open their 56-game schedule at the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 13.
Hoffman has scored at least 20 goals in six straight seasons, including his NHL high 36 in 2018-19. He has scored 359 points (172 goals, 187 assists) in 493 NHL games during nine seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Panthers.
Scoring is something the Blues will need with five-time 30-goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko recovering from Sept. 17 shoulder surgery. The forward is expected to be re-evaluated in February.
"Talking to Mike, we started this obviously months ago when free agency started," St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong said. "A lot of conversations we've had with players is that contracts aren't deemed the value you have in the league, it's deemed the amount of [NHL salary] cap space that teams have. Mike got into a situation where he wasn't comfortable with some of the offers that he had, so he was willing to look at a shorter-term deal or coming with us on a tryout. Obviously our plans are to get him signed. Then you start selling what you have, and we believe the strength of our team is down the middle of the ice. ... I think when you're trying to sell a winger to come to your organization, you're trying to sell the ability to play with good players."
Photo courtesy: St. Louis Blues*
