Image courtesy of Sport.ch
On Monday afternoon, the St. Louis Blues announced that they had signed forward André Heim to a one-year entry-level contract for the upcoming 2023-24 NHL season. While the financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, the contract is a two-way, meaning that Heim could either start the season in St. Louis or with the Blues AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The 25-year-old native of Interlaken, Switzerland originally received an invite last month to attend training camp with the Blues before eventually signing an entry-level contract on Monday.
Heim was never drafted and has spent the first six seasons of his pro career in the Swiss National League, splitting those six years between SC Bern and HC Ambri-Piotta.
Heim joined Ambri-Piotta at the start of the 2021-22 season and this past season (’22-’23), he served as an alternate captain while registering 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 42 games played. While Ambri-Piotta, much like the Blues, didn’t make the playoffs this year, Ambri-Piotta won the Spengler Cup, an annual invitation-only tournament held at Christmastime featuring Team Canada facing off against some of the top teams from across the different European leagues.
Over the course of his career in Europe, Heim has put up 122 points (45 goals, 77 assists) in 305 games played while also representing his country in various international tournaments.
Heim is technically still under contract with Ambri-Piotta until 2025 but he is free to leave the team to fulfill his obligations to the Blues. The Swiss National League, unlike the KHL in Russia has no rules in place preventing players from joining an NHL team while still under contract in Europe.
Heim is listed at 6’2″, 198 lbs and can play either at center or on right wing.
With training camp still several months away, it remains to be seen if Heim will make the Blues’ 2023-24 opening night roster.
© 2023 Caitlin Loggins
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