The St. Louis Blues announced they will be placing forward Brandon Saad on unconditional waivers on Thursday (Jan. 30) for purpose of contract termination, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 32-year-old has had a down season in St. Louis, recording only seven goals and nine assists for 16 points through 43 games. However, last season he scored 26 goals which was the most since his 31-goal campaign during the 2015-2016 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s scored more than 20 goals in seven seasons, but has hovered around the 20-goal mark his entire career, with his career-low being 10 goals during the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season. He has 515 points in 906 career games.
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Originally, the Blues were placing him on waivers in hopes he got claimed, or he would be sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL). However, his $4.5 million cap hit complicated things for other teams. It was unlikely he would get claimed due to his remaining salary, and the fact that he still had one more year on his current deal. So, Saad decided to forfeit the remaining $5.4 million owed to him for a fresh start and a chance for another Stanley Cup.
Enter the Edmonton Oilers who are poised to make another deep playoff run and have clear Stanley Cup aspirations. Saad is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, so bringing in a proven winner makes sense. He’s a versatile talent who can play up and down the lineup. He clearly wants to play in the NHL or he wouldn’t give up guaranteed money. He has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, making considering signing the veteran winger a low-risk, high-reward move.
Oilers Have History Signing Players Midseason
The Oilers had success signing players midseason in recent years. On Jan. 27, 2022, they signed Evander Kane to a one-year deal after his contract was terminated by the San Jose Sharks. His was a major contributor that season, recording 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games, including another 17 points in 15 playoff games, which ultimately earned him a four-year contact extension. He was really effective until the injury bug caught up with the power forward.
Then, the Oilers signed Corey Perry in January 2024 after the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract due to unacceptable conduct stemming from an internal investigation. While Perry didn’t have the same immediate impact as Kane, he added a much-needed scoring…
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