It wasn’t the way to go for any top free agent without restrictions, but it was 2020, so all bets were off in this bizarre offseason.
When the top UFA top scorer on the market in 2020 had to wait almost three months as a free agency to land with a team, you know things are crazy.
But let’s be clear. Market interest has always been there. But at one point, after missing the first wave in October, Mike Hoffman’s camp, led by Agent Rob Hooper, decided to follow the patient’s path and wait closer to the season to figure things out. Which I think was wise.
Depending on what Hoffman gets to sign as his real NHL contract with the Blues, his professional attempt (PTO) with St. Louis is just a bridge to get there, giving the team time to resolve the long-term accident reserve (LTIR) on opening night and probably turning the PTO into a debatable point.
Which means, the one-year deal he gets with Blues (I guess it’s around $ 4 to $ 4.25 …