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| Photo courtesy of Scott Neer, TSNPhotography |
After weeks of uncertainty, it has been determined that
forward Vladimir Sobotka will not be returning to the Blues for the 2015-16
season.
Sobotka, who joined the Kontinental Hockey League’s Omsk
Avangard last offseason after contract negotiations with the Blues went sour,
will remain in Russia for at least one more season. The forward is set to begin the second year of a three-year, $12 million contract he signed with Avangard last summer. The KHL contract
includes an out clause that can be accepted following each season.
Last year, Sobotka, who will turn 28 on Jul. 2, posted 10 goals, 38 points in 53 KHL
games. The Blues had interest in the forward coming back to North America, but
the interest was not mutual.
“When he left, it was a business decision,” Blues general
manager Doug Armstrong said following the season. “I respected that. I
understood that. He had to do what he had to do and we had to do what was right
for our organization. I’d welcome him back with open arms.”
Sobotka still owes the Blues one season at a value just
slightly over $2.7 million. That value was decided by an arbitrator after
negotiations between the club and Sobotka were unsuccessful a year ago.
The
Blues, during negotiations, offered Sobotka two deals, a three-year deal with an average annual value
of $3 million and a two-year deal worth $5.4 million total. The then-restricted
free agent forward rejected both offers and headed overseas after the Blues
would not meet the asking price of a two-year, $6 million deal.
Armstrong reached out to Sobotka at various points
throughout the season and even after the season, but the general manager did
not get many responses. Sobotka had a window to opt out of his KHL contract,
which is believed to have expired in May. The Blues only just made the decision official, likely because they were only recently notified by Sobotka.
“I sent him congratulatory things and I didn’t get a lot
back,” Armstrong said of his communications with Sobotka. “I didn’t expect to.
I get that part of it. It’s difficult. He had to move to Siberia to play ice
hockey. He made a lot of money doing it and can spend that money for the rest
of his life. I’d love him to come back and play in St. Louis.”
In Sobotka’s most recent season with the Blues, he tallied
nine goals, 33 points in 61 games. The Blues have the option of moving Sobotka’s
rights to another team and there was speculated interest from around the league
last season in acquiring those rights. However, Armstrong has been adamant that
Sobotka will be a part of the club moving forward or he will never play in the
NHL again.
“I love what he brought to our team; I love his attitude,”
said Armstrong. “I’m a huge fan of the man and I respect the business decision.
“I think we are in the same spot this year as we were last
year when he was here. He is going to be part of the solution moving forward if
he comes back.”
Many believed that Sobotka would return to the NHL this
season after the Russian economy took a hit last year. However, some player
contracts were not affected by the decreased value of the Russian ruble. In the
future, that may not be the case for Sobotka with the KHL and Russian economy struggling.
“I think the ruble is going to make his decision maybe a
little bit easier,” said Armstrong. “That league doesn’t seem to be having the
same attraction maybe it had a year or two ago. Obviously I’m not an economist
but if he’d like to come back, I’d love to have him back.”
The next chance for Sobotka to join the Blues is next summer
when his 2015-16 season with Avangard concludes.