Season In SHL Best For St. Louis Blues F Magnus Paajarvi

The news broke this weekend that St. Louis Blues forward Magnus Paajarvi had filed for salary arbitration with his club.

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Paajarvi, a restricted free agent, will be scheduled for a hearing in Toronto over the period of July 20-August 4. He earned $1.4 million during the 2014-2015 season, ending a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.2 million. Paajarvi spent only 10 games up in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, posting only one assist and was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves.

While on the Wolves he earned 29 points in 36 games and ended the season posting a +/- of +3.

Paajarvi was selected by the Edmonton Oilers with their first selection (10th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and since then has regularly spent at least half the season in the AHL.

Paajarvi was acquired by the St. Louis Blues in June, 2013 in exchange for sending David Perron and a second-round Draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers. He scored 15 goals and 19 assists in his rookie year with the Oilers but since then has struggled to get on the board consistently.

When traded, Paajarvi indicated that he wanted to be an NHL player full-time.

“I’m actually excited to come to a contending team right away,” Paajarvi told the Edmonton Sun. “I haven’t been in the playoffs yet in three years, so hopefully I can contribute to the team and do what I need to do.”

While Paajarvi’s numbers have not been all that special, this may be his way of trying to force his way into the NHL, unhappy with bouncing between the AHL and NHL.

Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Paajarvi may be seeking a one-way contract and could elect to play in Sweden if he does not receive one from the club.

This is certainly understandable for a player, and knowing Paajarvi’s background as a first-round, top-ten pick, a little bit of ego is probably weighing in. If Paajarvi were on another team that weren’t stacked with depth players, he’d have cracked the lineup more regularly than he has in St. Louis. However the numbers he is posting in the AHL aren’t indicative of someone who will excel in the NHL, and his less-physical style of play doesn’t give one the impression he’ll be successful on the Blues.

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So far he hasn’t shown the Blues he has the ability to thrive on their team with his particular style of play. Paajarvi is a speedy player who passes well, but who still tends to stay out of scrums for the puck, instead waiting for an opportune moment which doesn’t always arrive. He would actually be a good fit on the re-imagined, faster St. Louis Blues that Hitchcock was touting in May, but I’m not holding my breath on that vision actually coming true.

St. Louis does not have a lot of salary cap money to spare as they have not yet locked up key franchise player Vladimir Tarasenko, also an RFA. Paajarvi may very well be looking at a season or two in the SHL, which might be the best thing for him. Paajarvi would have the opportunity to play hockey in a league that plays to his strengths (speed and passing) while continuing to develop his play.

Otherwise, he’s likely looking at a quick-and-dirty contract and a trade early in the season to get him off the St. Louis salary cap.

Next: Blues Chris Pronger Left It All On The Ice

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