OSHIE SIGNS NHL CONTRACT WITH ST. LOUIS

Sioux Falls, SD— Former Stampede forward T.J. Oshie signed a three-year NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues earlier today. He will be paid $850,000 a year with the potential to make $900,000 per year through bonuses. He will report to the Blues developmental camp in June and is on tap to make the team when training camp begins in the fall.

Oshie spent the past three seasons at the University of North Dakota where he posted 142 points (55g, 83a) in 128 career games. This past year, he led the team in scoring with 45 points (18g, 27a) in 42 games and helped lead the Fighting Sioux to their fourth straight trip to the Frozen Four. He was also a first-team All-WCHA and one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top college hockey player of the year.

A native of Warroad, MN, Oshie was a 1st round draft choice (24th overall) of the Blues in 2005. That same round, teammate Joe Finely was taken 27th overall by the Washington Capitals as the Stampede became the first USHL team to have two players drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft.

Oshie attended the Blues developmental camp last summer and graded out as the team’s top prospect, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He could have signed then, but returned to school citing a hunger for another shot at a national championship.

Oshie spent part of the 2004-05 season with the Stampede, posting five points (3g, 2a) in 11 games with the Herd.
*Courtesy: Sioux Falls Stampede