With the status remaining quo in St. Louis, Vladimir Sobotka will steer clear.
Sobotka has reportedly informed Avangard Omsk that he's decided against a return to the St. Louis Blues and will remain in the KHL next season, reports Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Russia's Hawk.ru.
The 27-year-old had a two-week window to negotiate a homecoming deal, but much like his previous contract discussions, they appear to have quickly gone stale.
He will earn more than $4.5 million staying with Omsk, a sizable bump on the $2.7 million he was awarded in U.S. arbitration, but there is risk associated with his decision. The KHL is currently in financial peril, a league-wide issue typified by its Sochi franchise having been issued a lawsuit for their failure to pay players.
Sobotka contributed nine goals and 33 points in his last NHL stint back in 2013-14.