Blues Sign Halak

The St. Louis Blues have signed goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a four-year, $15 million contract.

"Jaroslav will be a big help for our organization moving forward," said Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong in a statement. "He has made a great commitment to the Blues as he enters the prime of his career."

If you will remember, St. Louis acquired Halak in a surprise move last month from Montreal, in exchange for prospects Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

Halak will count $3.75 million towards the cap.  His deal will pay him in accelerating terms, in which he will take home $2.75m in the first year, then $3.5m in the next, $4.25m in the third, and $4.5m in the final year of the contract.

Halak was 26-13-5 last season with the fourth-best save percentage in the NHL at .940, and ninth overall in goals-against average at 2.40; which included five shutouts. He was even more impressive in the post-season as he defeated Eastern powerhouses Washington and Pittsburgh.


Halak's reasonable signing cost puts even more pressure on Montreal, as the Canadiens have to get Price at a lower cost and have him outperform Halak this coming season, or the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge faithful will have a meltdown!