Alexander Steen signs four-year extension with St. Louis Blues

Dec 5, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) looks on during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scottrade Center. Toronto won the game 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) looks on during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scottrade Center. Toronto won the game 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /
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The St. Louis Blues have signed star wing Alexander Steen to a four-year extension worth $23 million. 

After making it to the Western Conference Finals last season, the St. Louis Blues have been looking to keep together the core of that team. Despite the departures of Troy Brouwer, Brian Elliott, and David Backes, the Blues have done a relatively good job of doing so. After extending Jaden Schwartz earlier this offseason, the Blues have done the same with Alexander Steen. Steen gets a four-year extension that will be worth $23 million for an average annual value of $5.75 million.

“St. Louis has become home. I’ve been here eight years,” Steen said, via NHL.com. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people within hockey and outside hockey here. We seem to be spending less and less time in Sweden to make sure we get our time in here as well. It’s been an incredible journey and St. Louis is definitely somewhere I see as home now.”

Steen was going to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2016-17 season. His 2016-17 salary will be $6.5 million with a cap hit of $5.8 million. Steen will likely serve as an alternate captain this season following the departure of their former captain Backes. Alex Pietrangelo is replacing Backes as the Blues captain.

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In 2015-16, Steen had 17 goals and 52 points in 67 regular season games. Steen added four goals and 10 points during the postseason. He has spent the past eight seasons with the Blues following a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Blues, Steen has 147 goals and 355 points in 493 games. In his NHL career, Steen has 197 goals and 481 points in 746 games.

The Blues are clearly in “win now” mode after making it to the Western Conference Finals. Steen will be 36 when his contract expires, but he makes them a better team for at least the next two seasons.