The St. Louis Blues have been planning on having Vladimir Sobotka back in their lineup for the 2016-17 season, but whether or not he’ll actually appear remains a mystery. Sobotka bolted from the Blues in favor of the KHL after an arbitration decision back in 2014, but due to the ruling, he still owes the Blues a year of service should he ever return to the NHL. Sobotka could have returned in 2015-16, but he decided to continue playing with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong has commented several times over the summer, stating that he has spoken with Sobotka’s agent and he has no doubts that Sobotka will be back for 2016-17.
Armstrong, via Yahoo! Sports:
“It’s one of those ones where I understand everyone’s nervousness because he’s not here. But he’s not going to be here until after the World Cup, so I think the questions are going to persist until he gets off the plane at Lambert (Airport) and comes into the Mills or to Scottrade. When he does that, this will finally be behind us.”
Though the Blues GM doesn’t have any doubts that he’s willing to voice publicly, the Sobotka situation is one which won’t truly be over until he’s back in a Blues sweater. Until then, doubt will remain.
To make matters worse, a report out of Russia quotes Avangard Omsk’s GM who doesn’t seem to think Sobotka is leaving.
GM of #Avangard to @hockey_se: 'Sobotka will join us as soon as he's healthy. Forget about St. Louises and other nonsense' #STLBlues
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) August 20, 2016
Should that report prove to be true, the Blues would be in quite the pickle. After losing Troy Brouwer, David Backes and Steve Ott to free agency, the club is already looking a bit thin up front. Sobotka won’t be the difference for the Blues, but he would assist in filling in the holes which were created over the summer.
Like any situation involving the KHL, there’s really no way of knowing how this will play out.
