The St. Louis Blues have made some key additions this summer via both trade and free agency, while also retaining some of their own players. They added another one of those to the list on Saturday.
The Blues announced that they signed Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract on Saturday morning. The one-year, two-way contract is worth $775,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL with a $350,000 guarantee.
The Blues selected Alexandrov in the second round (62nd overall pick) in the 2019 NHL Draft. The German-born forward made his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season but has largely played in the AHL in his professional career.
The 24-year-old forward had been steadily improving in those seasons in the AHL, though. He had 30 points in 67 games in the '21-22 season, increased that to 38 points in 41 games in '22-23, and after injuries slowed him down in the 2023-24 campaign, he came back with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 48 AHL games last season.
He hasn't gotten a long look in the NHL, recording just nine points (three goals, six assists) in 51 games with the Blues. He has 129 points (58 goals, 71 assists) in 170 career AHL games.
Alexandrov may turn out to be just an AHL-NHL tweener for the Blues, but there could be some upside for the forward. If he can be a point-per-game player in the AHL again this season, he could be one of the first forwards the Blues call up if there is an injury or if they are looking for a spark.