Joseph brothers reunite with Blues
Brothers Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Mathieu Joseph will get a chance to play together with the St. Louis Blues this upcoming season.
The Blues signed P.O. Joseph, who was an unrestricted free-agent defenseman, to a one-year, $950,000 contract on Tuesday, the club confirmed.
Earlier Tuesday, St. Louis acquired Mathieu Joseph and a 2025 third-round pick from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations.
P.O. recorded 11 points in 52 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023-24. The Pens decided not to issue the 25-year-old a qualifying offer, making him a UFA. He'll become a restricted free agent again in 2025.
The Arizona Coyotes selected P.O. 23rd overall in the 2017 draft. The 6-foot-2 left-shot defenseman has registered 37 points in 147 career NHL games.
Mathieu collected 11 goals while establishing career highs in assists (24) and points in his second full season with Ottawa. The 27-year-old didn't drive possession at five-on-five in 2023-24, authoring a subpar expected goals for percentage of 46.59, per Natural Stat Trick. However, he was elite at killing penalties.
Mathieu Joseph, acquired by STL, is a defence-first middle six winger and penalty killer. #STLBlues pic.twitter.com/bKGgEs2Ofw
- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2024
The Senators got Mathieu and a 2024 fourth-round selection in a 2022 trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending forward Nick Paul to the Bolts. The former played parts of four campaigns with Tampa to start his career after the Lightning drafted him 120th overall in 2015.
He's under contract through 2025-26 at an average annual value of $2.95 million, according to CapFriendly.
The Blues also acquired forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Faksa had spent his entire nine-year career with the Stars, who selected him 13th overall in 2012. The 30-year-old posted seven goals and 12 assists over 74 regular-season contests with Dallas in 2023-24, adding a goal in eight playoff games.
The Czech center is far more one-dimensional than Mathieu Joseph.
Radek Faksa, acquired by STL, is a defence-only depth centre. #STLBlues pic.twitter.com/irTOnaNRaP
- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2024
Faksa is on the books for the upcoming campaign at $3.25 million.
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