The St. Louis Blues continue to take care of their own players, signing defenseman Nikita Nikitin to a one-year contract extension on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.
Nikitin, 24, just completed his first NHL season, playing in 41 games for the Blues with one goal and eight assists. He was eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound defenseman from Omsk, Russia, was originally drafted by St. Louis in the fifth round (136th overall) in the 2004 entry draft.
Nikitin joins center Patrik Berglund and defenseman Roman Polak, who recently signed contract extensions prior to becoming restricted free agents.
The Blues still have players with restricted free agent status, including forwards T.J. Oshie, Matt D'Agostini, Vladimir Sobotka and B.J. Crombeen, as well as goalie Ben Bishop.
