Tkachuk Signs One-Year Contract and other NHL Notables posted by Jeff Ponder
St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced Friday that forward Keith Tkachuk has agreed to return to the club for one more year. The Blues and Tkachuk have been having talks about a return since being ousted from the playoffs in April. The deal is reportedly worth $2.15 million.
“Keith is a veteran leader who played a key role with our club’s success this past season,” Davidson added. “He and his wife Chantal are first class people and have been tremendous to the St. Louis Blues organization and the St. Louis community.”
Tkachuk tallied 25 goals and 24 assists in 79 games in 2008-09, along with 14 power-play goals that placed him second on the team just behind Brad Boyes. He started the season red hot though, scoring 7 goals in the Blues' first 6 games of the season. He was also the only Blue to participate in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, which saw him score the first goal of the game. His point totals have trailed off in his eight seasons in a Blues jersey, considering in 2001-02 Tkachuk netted 38 goals and 75 points. Scoring is not what Tkachuk was brought back for though.
Tkachuk has come a long way from his days of scoring 40-50 goals with the Phoenix Coyotes and Winnipeg Jets franchise. Not only is he still widely known as a hitter and a mule in front of the net, but he has added much depth to his game. Tkachuk spent a good portion of 2009 as a third line center, usually between the likes of gritty wingers Dan Hinote and Brad Winchester. When Tkachuk was on these checking lines, there was always a chance that a puck would cross the opposing red goal line. But his strength came in when he would forecheck and pressure the other team's defenses. Growing a little older, Tkachuk learned to adapt his game and still be a presence even though he cannot score 40 goals in a season anymore.
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