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5 worst contracts signed in St. Louis Blues franchise history feat. Paul Stastny
The St. Louis Blues have had some of the NHL’s greatest players on their roster. The Blues had Wayne Gretzky in their lineup, even if it was for a short period. While the Blues have made several savvy moves throughout their history, they’ve also missed the mark more than a few times.
With that in mind, here’s a take on the five worst contracts in St. Louis' history.
5 worst contracts signed in St. Louis Blues franchise history
#5. Alexander Steen
Steen was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round pick in 2002. He made the club in 2005 and never looked back. He was traded to St. Louis in a famously lopsided deal favoring the Blues. He played well during the first part of his tenure in St. Louis, scoring 33 goals in 2013-14.
Steen eventually signed a four-year contract extension in 2015 worth $23 million. The $5.8 million cap hit was considered too high for a middle-six forward. The deal aged badly as Steen’s play gradually declined, making the cap hit enormously high for an aging player.
Steen eventually became a bottom-six role player during the Blues’ 2019 cup run.
#4. Jori Lehtera
The Finnish forward was a pleasant surprise for the St. Louis Blues after being drafted in the third round in 2008. He had a solid first season in 2014-15, putting up 44 points in 75 games. His numbers regressed the following season, scoring nine goals and 34 points in 79 games.
That didn’t stop the St. Louis Blues from giving Lehtera a two-year, $5.5 million deal. The Blues immediately regretted the deal. Lehtera managed just 22 points in 64 games in the next campaign, prompting the Blues to deal Lehtera to the Philadelphia Flyers. The deal was even worse as the Blues had to bundle a first-round pick to make the deal work.
Lehtera plummeted in Philadelphia, playing parts of two seasons before being out of the NHL for good.
#3. Steve Ott
Despite being a first-round pick, Ott never became more than a bottom-six forward. His gritty style made him a perfect shutdown center. While he had some good offensive years with the Dallas Stars, his play gradually declined.
Ott was part of the famous Ryan Miller deal that sent Miller and Ott to the St. Louis Blues for a package of players. Ott played out the 2013-14 season before hitting free agency. The St. Louis Blues signed Ott to a two-year $5.2 million deal, considered astronomical at the time for a fourth-liner.
While Ott played 78 games the next season, he only managed three goals and 12 points. The following year was a disaster, as Ott only played in 21 games. Ott spent the next season with the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens before being done for good.
#2. Jay McKee
Jay McKee was the typical stay-at-home defenseman. Offense was never his strong suit, but he was valued for his gritty, hard-nosed style that kept opposing teams in check.
McKee was coming off a solid 75-game season with the Buffalo Sabres in 2005-06. He chipped in 16 points while playing tough minutes against the opposition’s best players. So, the St. Louis Blues signed McKee to a four-year, $16 million deal.
McKee had a terrible first year, playing only 23 games. He played in 60-plus games the following two seasons but showed inconsistent play. He only managed 17 points over those two seasons. The Blues bought out McKee’s final year in order to free up cap space.
#1. Paul Stastny
Stastny was the Colorado Avalanche’s second-round pick in 2005. He wasted little time in making the team. He had an excellent first year, racking up 78 points. He would have several good seasons for Colorado before hitting free agency in 2014.
The Blues pounced on the opportunity, signing Stastny to a four-year, $28 million guaranteed deal. The Blues promptly regretted the decision. Stastny’s production took a nosedive, dropping by as much as 20 points per season.
The deal was awful, as the St. Louis Blues were paying first-line money for bottom-six production. Stastny played out his deal in St. Louis before bouncing around with several teams. He last played for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, totaling 22 points in 73 games.
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