ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues locked up another key cog for their future on Friday when they signed forward Ryan Reaves to a four-year contract extension worth $4.5 million.
"It means a lot," Reaves told Blues radio broadcaster Chris Kerber. "It's been a long road. It's my seventh year in this organization, coming from the coast all the way here and now a four-year contract in the big leagues. So I couldn't be happier to be on this team. I love the group of guys, the ownership, the GM and coaching staff. They've been a big help in my career."
Reaves, 26, has been an all-around contributor this season, proving he is more than just an enforcer on the ice. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in 26 games and is plus-seven with 65 penalty minutes. He accounted for six points in 43 games last season.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pounder from Winnipeg, Canada, was a fifth-round pick by the Blues in the 2005 Draft. Reaves, now in his fourth season with the Blues, recently returned to action after he missed 17 games because of a broken bone in his hand suffered in a fight against Dallas.
"We are happy to have Ryan in the fold for the next four years," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a press release. "He has grown into a well-rounded player and will continue to play an important role for our team moving forward."
The Blues signed forward Alexander Steen to a three-year $17.4 million contract extension last month. T.J. Oshie is signed through the 2016-17 season and captain David Backes is signed through 2015-16. Over the summer, St. Louis invested in long-term contracts for defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester and also signed Kevin Shattenkirk through the 2016-17 season.
@StLouisBlues GREAT NEWS. BEST ENFORCER IN THE LEAGUE!!!! THAT'S A BARGIN IN MY EYES
— Reed Low (@ReedLow34) January 11, 2014
You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter (@natelatsch) or email him at natelatsch@gmail.com.
