Blues awarded 1-year, $2.725 million contract with KHL-bound Sobotka through arbitration

The St. Louis Blues were awarded a one-year deal with KHL-bound forward Vladimir Sobotka as a result of a club-elected salary arbitration on Monday, the club announced. 

The under-rated 27-year-old checking forward recently signed a three-year deal worth $4 million per season in the KHL with Avangard Omsk. Sobotka's KHL deal includes an out-clause following every season, although the hard-nosed forward will be required to honor the contract awarded by the arbitrator as a result of Monday's hearing should he elect to return to the NHL. 

According to a report from Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sobotka will receive $2.725 million for the season in which he returns to the NHL.

"We are looking forward to having Vladimir in a Blues uniform when he returns to the NHL," said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong in a team release. "We wish him the best of luck in the upcoming season."