GRAND FORKS, N.D. - One of the most electrifying players in college hockey is on his way to the NHL.
As expected, University of North Dakota junior T.J. Oshie signed a three-year deal with the St. Louis Blues today, giving up his final year of college eligibility.
Oshie, who declined to sign with the Blues last summer, could make as much as $850,000 annually with an $85,000 signing bonus. Incentives could put his contract over $1 million annually.
After starring at Warroad (Minn.) High School for three years, St. Louis selected Oshie in the first round (24th overall) of the 2005 NHL draft. Oshie then spent the next three years at UND, where he tallied 142 points in 129 games.
Oshie was one of 10 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists as a junior and was named a first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
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The signing marks the ninth straight offseason that UND has lost a player early to the pros. Last summer, forward Jonathan Toews signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and defenseman Brian Lee signed with the Ottawa Senators.
Oshie is the ninth Western Collegiate Hockey Association player to leave school early so far this offseason, and UND is the eighth team to lose someone early.
Oshie joins Kyle Turris (Wisconsin), Jeff Frazee (Minnesota), Blake Wheeler (Minnesota), Michael-Lee Teslak (Michigan Tech), Chris Butler (Denver), Andreas Nodl (St. Cloud State), Jason Garrison (Minnesota-Duluth) and Jon Kalinski (MSU-Mankato) on the early departure list.
UND is still awaiting word from juniors Taylor Chorney, Joe Finley, Ryan Duncan and Andrew Kozek.
For more, see tomorrow's Forum.
The Forum and the Grand Forks Herald are both owned by Forum Communications Co.
