Sobotka reportedly signs with KHL: Blues GM respects player's decision
Despite reports surfacing that St. Louis Blues forward (and restricted free agent) Vladimir Sobotka signed a three-year contract with Omsk of the KHL, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is still planning to attend Sobotka's arbitration meeting on July 21 in Toronto.
“An award will be given and that will be his contract for the ’14-15 season,” Armstrong told reporters Thursday (via ProHockeyTalk). “We hope that he’ll be at training camp under that contract. If he’s in the KHL, that contract will toll until future years.”
Armstrong also revealed that in June the Blues offered Sobotka multiple deals, including a multi-year contract worth more than $3-million per season.
Should the 27-year-old native of the Czech Republic, who had a career year in 2013-14, posting nine goals and 33 points, choose to ply his trade in Russia, Armstrong says he'll respect his decision.
“I just want to emphasize that this is a business decision by Vlad that I respect,” said Armstrong. “It does not change my admiration for him as a man and how he plays and what he’s accomplished and what he’s going to accomplish.
“I don’t want to turn this into a personal thing or get it to that point, because it’s not like that.”