Jun 30, 2007, 23:35 GMT
St. Louis, MO - The St. Louis Blues announced on Saturday they have signed center Keith Tkachuk. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
'We are excited to be able to bring a player of Keith's caliber back to the St. Louis Blues,' said Blues president John Davidson. 'Keith played great hockey under head coach Andy Murray last season and we are thrilled to have him wearing the Bluenote again.'
After playing parts of six seasons in St. Louis, the 35-year-old was dealt to Atlanta on February 25 in exchange for first-and-third-round draft picks in 2007, a second-round choice in 2008 and forward Glen Metropolit.
St. Louis then re-acquired Tkachuk's rights this past Tuesday from the Thrashers in the hopes of luring him back to the Gateway City before the veteran could test the market after the start of the free-agent signing period, which begins at noon on Sunday.
Last season with the Blues and Thrashers, Tkachuk posted 27 goals, 58 points and 126 penalty minutes in 79 games. In 976 games with the Blues, Thrashers and the Winnipeg/Phoenix franchise, Tkachuk has posted 473 goals, 453 assists and 2,033 penalty minutes. He posted 50-plus goals or more in back- to-back seasons (1995-96 with the Jets and 1996-97 with the Coyotes).
The Melrose, Massachusetts native was selected by Winnipeg in the first round -- 19th overall -- in the 1990 draft.
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