Jeff Woywitka Returns to the Blues

The St. Louis Blues have finally signed a defenseman. Unfortunately, it isn’t a name that will excite Blues fans. The team announced today that they have reached an agreement with Jeff Woywitka on a deal that will give the defenseman a one-year, two-way contract for 2012-13. The move is clearly designed to boost the defensive depth for the Peoria Rivermen as opposed to being one that will help the group at the NHL level.

Woywitka should be a pretty familiar name for Blues fans. He skated with the club between 2005 and 2009, appearing in 152 games. After leaving the Blues, Woywitka skated with Dallas in 2009-10 and in 2010-11 before joining the New York Rangers for 27 games in 2011-12.

Don’t panic. Woywitka is not going to be the top-4 defenseman the Blues are searching for. Simply, he is AHL depth. The organization is all too familiar with the limitations he brings to the ice. He is an extremely average defenseman that has earned a two-way contract, meaning he won’t see any NHL time unless there are a wave of injuries (knock on wood) through the St. Louis defense.

Photo courtesy of ESPN.