Pavel Buchnevich signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. It has an average annual value of $8 million and begins with the 2025-26 season.
The 29-year-old forward had 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 80 games with the Blues last season. He tied for second on the team in goals and was third in points.
Buchnevich, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 23, 2021, has 206 points (83 goals, 123 assists) in 216 games for the Blues, including NHL career highs in goals (30), assists (46) and points (76) in 2021-22, his first season with the team.
“Obviously really happy for him. Deserved,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “He’s been an outstanding player for us. He’s going to be a big player for us moving forward. He’s a corner piece to our success and what we’re trying to do here. … He’s been a big part of the success that we’ve had, or we’re trying to have, and we believe in him. He believes in us, too, and what we’re trying to do here, so, excited to have him back.”
Selected by New York in the third round (No. 75) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Buchnevich has 401 points (162 goals, 239 assists) in 517 regular-season games and 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
On Tuesday, the Blues also acquired forwards Radek Faksa and Mathieu Joseph in separate trades for future considerations.
Faksa, who was acquired from the Dallas Stars, had 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 74 regular-season games for the Stars last season and one goal in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 30-year-old has 200 points (89 goals, 111 assists) in 638 regular-season games and 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 79 playoff games since being selected with the No. 13 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Joseph, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators, had an NHL career-high 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 72 games last season. The 27-year-old has 135 points (55 goals, 80 assists) in 135 regular-season games for the Senators and Lightning and two assists in 10 playoff games.
“We felt we have to be a harder team to play against, a team that can play stronger along the walls, stronger in front of the net,” Bannister said. “I think that’s something that certainly was addressed.
“Their strengths are plays away from the puck and certainly being able to kill penalties. I think in the role that they’re going to play for us, it certainly frees up maybe some of our top players to play 5-on-5, more specialty team units on the power play, not relying so much heavily on the PK because we have these players that can play in these positions.”
The Blues also received a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Senators.
NHL.com independent correspondent Lou Korac contributed to this report.
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