Cheechoo signs with Blues

St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the Blues, parent club of the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen, have signed forward Jonathan Cheechoo to a one-year contract.

Cheechoo, 30, spent last season with the American Hockey League’s Worcester Sharks, scoring 18 goals and leading the team in assists (29) and points (47) despite being limited by injury to just 55 games played.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward has appeared in 501 National Hockey League games over seven seasons between the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators, compiling 305 points (170 goals, 135 assists) along with 324 penalty minutes. He led the NHL with 56 goals and set a career high with 93 points for San Jose in 2005-06.

The Moose Factory, Ont., native was originally drafted by San Jose in the second round, 29th overall, of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the AHL All-Rookie Team and skated in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2000-01. In 217 career AHL games with Kentucky, Cleveland, Binghamton and Worcester, Cheechoo has recorded 82 goals and 98 assists for 180 points.