Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Can you elaborate on why he's so set on playing in St. Louis? I get that it's home but it's the prime earnings period of his career and were things really that bad in Buffalo and Calgary that he had to go home in the middle of his career to a team that really doesn't have room? This is a great move by the Blues as there's no risk at all on their side as if he makes the lineup they have a veteran player in his prime for pretty well league minimum salary.
|
His significant other lives there and was strongly against leaving - so much so she remained in St. Louis during his tenure with the Flames, and they really missed each other. I believe her career may be one which might not have allowed her to work in another country due to licensing or certification, but she shouldn't really be the target of this all. As is widely known, St. Louis is his home and he really likes the city and spends his offseasons there anyway.
Some players either don't care or don't realize their window for NHL earnings is very very small. He's a fairly smart guy, from what I know, so I imagine he's aware of what he may be giving up, money wise. As I mentioned at the end of the season, the only way he would have stayed in Calgary is if they gave him an offer that blew him out of the water. What amount that would be, who knows, but I imagine it would be a colossal overpayment. There was no beef between him and the Flames or anything, he simply wanted to return home to his family and his significant other, even if it required a discount. Thus him and his agent approached the Blues, which took all their leverage away. Whether they were the only team interested in him - which I doubt - only the parties involved know. My own speculation is he could have made more money somewhere else, but maybe it wasn't worth it to him. Had him and the Blues not been able to work something out, he would've approached Nashville and Chicago next.