Fresh off his best NHL season, goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage did not lack suitors when the free-agent market opened Wednesday, and the St. Louis Blues snapped him up in a hockey heartbeat.

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Ty Conklin

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Conklin, 33, signed a two-year, $2.6-million deal with St. Louis that banks him an annual raise of nearly 75 percent over his salary last season. Conklin earned $750,000 with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008-09.

St. Louis represents Conklin's sixth NHL stop, and his fifth club since 2007. He also has played for Edmonton, Columbus, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and in his eight-season pro career his clubs have three times played in the Stanley Cup Finals, including each of the last two seasons.

Conklin, reached by cell phone while vacationing with his wife Erika and their three kids in Montana on Tuesday, said St. Louis made him an immediate offer once the free-agent signing period opened.

"It's a young team, a pretty exciting team, an up-and-coming team, and one that played as well as anyone in the second half of the season,'' Conklin said. "I've never heard a bad word about the organization, and I really wanted to stay in the Western Conference.''

Conklin was one of about 50 free agents to agree to contracts Wednesday.

Conklin is one of 13 Alaskans who have played in the NHL and the only Alaska goalie to ascend to the world's best hockey league.

Though only occasionally a No. 1 goalie in the NHL, Conklin in each of the last two regular seasons has buoyed a team beset by goaltending problems and reeled off a .674 winning percentage in that span.

This past season, when Detroit's Chris Osgood struggled mightily, Conklin stepped in to go 25-11-2 with a 2.51 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and six shutouts. His wins, shutouts, appearances (40) and minutes played (2,246) all marked career highs.

In 2007-08, when Pittsburgh starter Marc-Andre Fleury suffered a midseason injury and the Penguins were stumbling, Conklin stepped in to deliver an 18-8-5 record, 2.51 goals-against average and career-high .923 save percentage.

In an NHL career that began with his debut for Edmonton in 2001, Conklin owns a 73-43-14 record (.615), 2.58 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and 10 shutouts.

"I've always been kind of a late bloomer,'' Conklin said. "Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out how to play in this league. It's kind of hard to blend in like a forward can or, to a lesser extent, a defenseman can. You're either stopping the puck or your not.

"I think the biggest thing is I've played more games the last couple of seasons, and more consecutive games. It gives you a chance, when you're not playing one game every three weeks and just trying to survive the first period.''

In St. Louis, Conklin will be looked upon to help stabilize a goaltending situation that lacked depth last season. Presumptive No. 1 backstop Manny Legace's play deteriorated so much he was demoted to the American Hockey League in February. Chris Mason seized his job and went 27-21-7 with a 2.41 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and six shutouts.

Mason started the Blues' last 33 regular-season games and all four playoff games.

"Sometimes, money determines opportunity,'' Conklin said. "Obviously, financially it's a lot better, a step up from what I've made the last couple years.

"I know the great season Mason had last year. I don't think they're signing me to play 10 games. Hopefully, I'll challenge for some ice time.''

Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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