– Photo by Ross D. Franklin Associated Press
The St. Louis Blues announced the acquisition of Arizona Coyotes’ defenseman Zbynek Michalek Monday morning.
In return, St. Louis will receive a conditional third-round draft pick and send prospect Maxim Letunov to the Coyotes.
Michalek is on the final year of his contract worth $4 million per season, but the Blues will only have to have a cap hit of roughly $900,000 for the remainder of the season according to nhlnumbers.com. After the trade, St. Louis also has $160,000 in salary cap space remaining.
So far this season, Michalek averages 21:05 and is 12th in the NHL in blocked shots with 130. In 53 games played, Michalek has logged two goals and six assists for eight points and a minus six rating.
Michalek has not suited up since Feb. 14 due to a concussion-related injury, but has been skating the past three days. Michalek said he is unsure when he will be able to begin playing for the Blues.
On the other side of the trade, Letunov was a second round pick in the 2014 NHL draft and played for Youngstown in the USHL in November. The 6’2″ center will attend Boston University at the age of 19 where he will develop in the Coyotes’ system.
This trade marks the second trade for the Blues after acquiring Andrew Cracknell from the Columbus Blue Jackets this past week.
