Steen may be ready by opening night, not sweating contract situation

Alexander Steen is seemingly ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

Expected to be sidelined four-to-six months following the injury announcement back in June - and therefore ruled out of the World Cup - Steen says he could be ready to play when the the St. Louis Blues open a new season against Chicago on Oct. 12.

He also seems comfortable heading into 2016-17 as a player set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Entering last year of his contract, Steen is NOT approaching talks as if there has to be a deal before season or it waits until summer (1/2)

- Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 13, 2016

Steen says he wants to stay with Blues and that signing an extension is possible whenever both sides are comfortable, whenever that may be.

- Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 13, 2016

Steen, 32, recorded 17 goals and 35 assists in 67 games last season, and will carry a cap hit of $5,800,000 in the final year of his deal.

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