The St. Louis Blues might be on the verge of losing potential free agents like David Backes and Troy Brouwer, but it sounds like a familiar face will be returning from Russia.
Vladimir Sobotka is ready to come back to North America. After playing seven years in the NHL with the Bruins and Blues, the 28-year-old decided to continue his career with Omsk Avangard in the KHL over the last two seasons. But Blues GM Doug Armstrong was told that he can expect to have Sobotka back for 2016-17.
“I’ve been told by the agent (Petr Svoboda) he’s coming back,” Armstrong said, per The St. Louis Dispatch. “I haven’t gotten anything official paperwork-wise, so I’m going on what he’s telling me. We’ll know by July 1.”
Army on Sobotka: "I've been told by the agent he's coming back. I haven't gotten anything official...so I'm going on what he's telling me."
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) June 18, 2016
Sobotka originally signed a three-year deal with Omsk, but decided it was time to opt out of his contract after just two seasons. He was reportedly making around $4 million in the KHL. Prior to him leaving, the Blues had offered him a one-year contract at $2.7 million and a two-year contract at $3 million per year.
Sobotka had nine goals, 33 points and 72 penalty minutes in 61 games in his last NHL season back in 2013-14.