GOJHL grad Mike Hoffman signs one-year deal with St. Louis Blues
Photo: NHL headshot courtesy of NHL.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - One of the National Hockey League's top goal-scorers has landed a deal with the St. Louis Blues.
That goal-scorer would be Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) grad Mike Hoffman, who inked a one-year $4 million deal with the Blues earlier this week. Hoffman was one of the most coveted free agents heading into the 2020 offseason but opted to wait to find an appropriate team fit. As reported last week, the former Kitchener Dutchmen star signed a Professional Tryout contract with the 2019 Stanley Cup chance in hopes to earn a contract for the 2021 NHL season.
The 31-year-old forward plays both wings is expected to play a role in the top-six and on the power play with the Blues. During training camp, the Kitchener, Ont. native played on a line with fellow Canadians Jaden Schwartz (LW) and Robert Thomas (C). He also found himself playing the point on the Blues' first power play unit with newly acquired Torey Krug (Left Defenceman).
Hoffman played a total of 49 games in the former Mid-Western Junior Hockey League (now Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League) in which he scored 58 points (28G/30A). He would be drafted by the Ottawa Senators 130th overall in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut with the Sens on Dec. 23, 2011. To date, Hoffman has played for the Senators and Florida Panthers and has accumulated 172 goals and 359 points in 493 games.
In 2021, the Blues will play in the Honda NHL West Division. The team's season gets under way Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m. EST when they face the Colorado Avalanche.
