Blues extend Pavel Buchnevich’s contract for six years and $48 million: Is that the price?

The St. Louis Blues have agreed to a six-year, $48 million contract extension with striker Pavel Buchnevich, the team announced on Tuesday.

Buchnevich, 29, has one year left on his current contract. The new deal, with an average annual value of $8 million, runs through the 2031-32 season.

Buchnevich scored 27 goals and 63 points in 80 games with the Blues last season and has scored 83 goals and 206 points in 216 games with the club in three seasons since joining from the New York Rangers.

He was mentioned as a transfer candidate at the March deadline and earlier this offseason if the team failed to sign him long-term.

Is it worth the money?

This is a great contract for the Blues, who limited Buchnevich’s contract to six years instead of the maximum eight, meaning he expires in his mid-30s. The AAV is also within the realm of possibility for a player who averaged nearly a point per game (0.96) in his three seasons in St. Louis.

What effect does it have on the core?

As the Blues continue to recruit and develop players, keeping Buchnevich gives them a much better chance to be competitive during the restructure. He gives them a true top-six forward who plays a 200-foot game. And as a veteran with eight years of experience and over 500 games, he will provide needed leadership.

Is there more to come?

The Blues completed two trades on Tuesday, acquiring center Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars and wing Mathieu Joseph from the Ottawa Senators for future assignments. The team also signed free agent defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Mathieu’s brother, who was undrafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Where does Buchnevich fit into the lineup now that he’s no longer a transfer?

The Blues have the option of having Buchnevich play on the left wing with center Robert Thomas and right wing Jordan Kyrou, or they can move him to the second line, where he would likely play center. It will be interesting to see if this experiment continues, but either way they can have two lines of skill.

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(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)