Dillon Dube Signs One-Way Contract with St. Louis Blues

On Wednesday, forward Dillon Dube signed a one-way free-agent contract with the St. Louis Blues worth $850,000 for the 2024-25 season. The agreement guarantees the salary regardless of whether Dube plays in the NHL or the American Hockey League (AHL). The 5-foot-11 winger, who turns 28 on July 20, spent the 2023-24 campaign with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, appearing in 58 games after a professional tryout began in December.

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Dube was one of five Canadian players charged in the 2018 World Junior tournament sexual-assault investigation. In December 2023, a judge in London, Ontario, found Dube and four teammates—notably Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton—not guilty of sexual assault; McLeod was also cleared of a party-to-offense count. The NHL reinstated all five players in September 2023, allowing them to return to professional play on Dec. 1.

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• Contract value: $850,000 (one-way)

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• Age: 27, turning 28 on July 20

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• AHL experience: 58 games with Springfield Thunderbirds (2023-24)

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• Other acquitted players’ paths: Carter Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final; Michael McLeod signed a three-year deal to remain in the KHL; Cal Foote signed an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves; Alex Formenton played in Switzerland.

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General manager Alexander Steen said the organization had closely monitored Dube during his AHL stint and believed he could contribute positively to the club. Steen emphasized the Blues’ “second-chance” philosophy and expressed confidence that Dube would “fight for a spot on our team next year.” The NHL’s reinstatement decision was framed as a procedural response to the court’s acquittals.

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Dube’s signing illustrates how NHL clubs are navigating the intersection of legal outcomes and roster decisions. By offering a guaranteed contract, the Blues signal willingness to integrate players cleared by the judicial system while maintaining a public stance on character and team culture. The move may influence how other franchises assess risk and opportunity for players emerging from high-profile legal cases.

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Dube will report to the Blues’ 2024-25 training camp, where he will compete for a roster spot alongside existing forwards. The organization indicated that performance and adherence to team standards will determine whether he remains on the NHL roster or is assigned to the AHL affiliate.

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> “He wants to be a positive influence. He's had a positive influence on (that team) or a positive impact. He approaches it with a sincerity and humility. Since I got here in St. Louis, the organization has always been a second-chance organization and this is Dillon's opportunity and we feel confident in giving it to him -- to fight for a spot on our team next year.” — Alexander Steen, General Manager, St. Louis Blues

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