Blues Free Agent Signing : MacEachern Returns

Backin MacEachern, Free Agent Signs for a Second Time

Heading into the 2023 free agent signing period, it appeared the St. Louis Blues would not be active, having just over Three Million in cap space. As the list of new contracts and trades were announced, the Note was nowhere to be found.

General Manager Doug Armstrong always surprises, though, three hours into free agency, they brought back forward Mackenzie MacEachern on a two-year one-way deal. He also inked defensemen Joshua Jacobs and Wyatt Kalynuk combined with goaltender Malcolm Subban to one-year two-way deals.

The Blues drafted MacEachern, 29, in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft 67th overall. He spent his first four years in the NHL with the Blues amassing 19 points (11G, 8A) and 55 PIM in 115 games. MacEachern signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes at the beginning of the 2022 season. Playing for the AHL Chicago Wolves, he dressed in 37 games, scoring 30 points (11G, 19A).

The Canes called him up for the playoff. He netted a goal and an assist in 8 games. His contract has a 775,000 AAV. He slots in as an extra forward.

Blues Fill AHL Roster with Free Agent Signings

Jacobs, 27, was a second-round pick 41st overall of the New Jersey Devils in 2014. The defenseman has only played three regular-season games in the NHL. While with the Colorado Eagles last season, the Shelby Township, Michigan, native scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) and spent 18 minutes in the box in 43 regular-season games in the AHL. He also posted four points (one goal, three assists) in seven AHL postseason games. Overall, Jacobs has recorded 81 points (17 goals, 64 assists) and 177 penalty minutes in 341 career AHL regular-season games.

Kalynuk, 26, was a 2017 draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers. The seventh rounder, 196th overall, spent last season splitting time between the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks and Hartford Wolf Pack, recording 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) and 86 penalty minutes in 61 regular-season games. He also had three points (one goal, two assists) in nine postseason games with the Wolf Pack. Overall, Kalynuk has totaled 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) and 147 penalty minutes in 121 career AHL regular-season games. He has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 26 career NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Veteran Subban to back up Vadim Zherenko

The Boston Bruins originally drafted Subban, 29, the brother of former NHLerP.K. Subban. He was a first-round, 24th overall, pick of the 2012 NHL Draft. Last season, the Toronto, Ontario, native went 20-14-5 with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in 39 regular-season appearances with the AHL’s Rochester Americans. During 14 AHL postseason games, Subban went 8-6-0 with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

Overall, Subban has posted a 78-61-28 record along with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in 171 career AHL regular-season games. His NHL record is 36-33-9 record with a 3.10 GAA and a .898 S% in 86 career NHL regular-season games. He played for Boston, Vegas, Chicago, and Buffalo.

The three two-way deals are each worth $775,000 AAV.

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