Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Tkachuk will remain with Blues

He likes direction franchise has taken

ST. LOUIS -- Keith Tkachuk knows there's a solid youth movement going on with the St. Louis Blues, but the 37-year-old forward wanted to make sure he's along for the ride.

Tkachuk and the Blues agreed Friday to a one-year deal worth $2.15 million, guaranteeing one of the franchise's most reliable building blocks is coming back.

"It was for all the right reasons, and I'm just glad they wanted me back," said Tkachuk, who had 49 points last season while helping the Blues return to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. "The family loves it here and we have a great thing with the team we have. The most important thing is they wanted me back. I'm not worried about the money at all.

"I want to win in St. Louis -- and I want to finish what I started there."

Tkachuk may be the Blues' elder statesmen, but he still has some scoring left in the tank. He had 25 goals last season and played in 79 of 82 games, reaching the 20-goal mark for the 15th time in his 17-year NHL career.

He is one of only seven U.S.-born players with 1,000 career points and among only four players in NHL history with 1,000 points and 2,000 penalty minutes.

In 1996-97, Tkachuk became the first American to lead the league in goal scoring with 52 while with the Phoenix Coyotes. He made $4.5 million last season and could have been an unrestricted free agent July 1.

"Keith is a veteran leader who played a key role with our club's success this past season," Blues President John Davidson said.

While the Blues are bringing Tkachuk back, Tkachuk also did a lot to help them last season.

He played center and wing, played on the top scoring line and the checking line. He also maintained his normal spot in front of the net as a gritty power play force.

The rookies that helped energize the Blues last season, players like T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, Roman Polak and others, seemed to benefit from the player they call "Big Walt" as much as he benefited from them.

"It's been good for both myself and the young guys," Tkachuk said. "I've learned as much from them as I hope they've learned from me. It's probably the youngest team we've had here in years and it was a great opportunity for everybody to learn.

"I know good things are going to continue to happen here in St. Louis."

Tkachuk's career includes 525 goals, 508 assists and 2,163 penalty minutes in 1,134 games. In addition to playing in the NHL playoffs, he's played in the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey for Team USA, making winning the Stanley Cup about the only plateau he hasn't reached.

"I still think every year you want to improve and the older you get, the tougher it is," Tkachuk said. "I feel pretty good about what's happening here and I want to be part of the success."

Tkachuk just finished his eighth season with the Blues. He started the 2006-07 season in St. Louis before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, who he helped make the playoffs. He then re-signed with the Blues during the summer.

Tkachuk originally joined the Blues in 2001 trade deadline deal with the Coyotes.

He said what's happening off the ice with the franchise --especially under the direction of new ownership led by Dave Checketts, Davidson, Larry Pleau, Al MacInnis and others -- is as important as any on-ice developments.

There seems to be an ongoing building project with everyone involved on the same page.

"With the core guys we have here and the whole organization doing the right thing, I wanted to be part of that," Tkachuk said. "If you want to win, you have to have that leadership. Not just from the players, but from management and ownership -- and when you have that strong leadership, great things are going to happen.

"Everybody cares about one thing, and that's moving forward and winning."