The St. Louis Blues have officially parted ways with veteran forward Brandon Saad after agreeing to a mutual contract termination. This announcement was made on Wednesday, shortly after Saad went unclaimed on waivers. The decision allows Saad, who is 32 years old, to pursue opportunities with other teams while the Blues clear significant cap space.
By agreeing to the termination, Saad will forfeit more than $5 million in salary. However, he will be placed on unconditional waivers this Thursday, and if he goes unclaimed again, he will become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team in the league.
Impact on the Blues’ Salary Cap
This move is beneficial for the Blues, as it removes Saad’s entire $4.5 million cap hit from their payroll. General Manager Doug Armstrong mentioned that the team explored trade options before resorting to waivers but was unable to find a suitable deal. Saad had one year left on the five-year, $22.5 million contract he signed in 2021.
“If we could find a match, we would,” Armstrong stated. “The market speaks and then you just react.”
Saad’s Performance and Future
During his four seasons with the Blues, Saad played 274 games, tallying 76 goals, which ties him for third-most on the team alongside Brayden Schenn and Robert Thomas. He also ranks fifth in total points with 144. However, this season has been challenging for him, with only seven goals and 16 points in 43 games. His average ice time has decreased to 14:36 per game, and he has been a healthy scratch on five occasions.
As the Blues continue to navigate their season, the termination of Saad’s contract may signal more changes on the horizon as the team looks to create opportunities for other players.
