Alex Steen strikes 4-year, $23M US contract extension with Blues

Alex Steen is healing well from off-season shoulder surgery and added to a healthy bank account Friday, re-signing with the St. Louis Blues for four years and $23 million US.

The veteran NHL forward, who had intentions of playing for Sweden in the World Cup of Hockey following the June 3 procedure, could be ready for the Blues' season opener Oct. 12 at Chicago.

"We are extremely excited to have Alexander signed for the next four seasons," St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement released by the team. "He has developed into one of the league's premier 200-foot players and is a key member of our leadership group.

"He has shown tremendous loyalty to the Blues organization, its fans and the St. Louis community."

A Winnipeg native and dual Canadian-Swedish citizen, Steen is entering his ninth season in St. Louis after it acquired the six-foot, 205-pound left winger from Toronto on Nov. 24, 2008.

Last season, he played 67 regular-season games and ranked second on the Blues with 35 assists and 52 points and fifth with 17 goals.

In 20 playoff contests, the 32-year-old Steen chipped in four goals and 10 points.

He is 11th in franchise history with 355 points (147 goals, 208 assists) in 493 regular-season games.

Steen has developed into one of the NHL's more versatile two-way forwards, averaging over 90 seconds of short-handed ice time and two-and-a-half minutes of power-play time per game.

In 746 NHL regular-season games, Steen has compiled 197 goals and 284 assists for 482.