LAS VEGAS — Brandon Saad spent less than an hour as a free agent, joining the Vegas Golden Knights fresh off the St. Louis Blues terminating his previous contract.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks signed a contract Friday for the remainder of the season that’s worth a prorated $1.5 million. It came together just after he cleared unconditional waivers.
The 32-year-old forward agreed to the mutual termination after the Blues put him on waivers with the intent of sending him to the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds. By forgoing the roughly $5.4 million left over this season and next, he instead got the chance to remain in the NHL.
Saad has struggled to produce this season, putting up just 16 points in 43 games. He has been held without a goal in 40 of those games.
With the Golden Knights, Saad moves up the standings to a legitimate contender, leaving the Blues to fight for a playoff spot without him.
A second-round pick by the Hawks in 2011, Saad was a key member of the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup champions. He returned to Chicago for a second stint with the Hawks from 2017-20.