The St. Louis Blues signed defenceman Joel Edmundson to a one-year, $3 million contract on Tuesday to avoid arbitration.

Edmundson had seven goals and 17 points in 69 games with the Blues last season. His arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

The 25-year-old averaged a career-high 20:44 of average ice time per game last season and was selected to represent Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Hockey Championship. He scored one goal and posted four points at the tournament.

A native of Brandon, MB., Edmundson has appeared in a total of 205 games with the Blues over the past three seasons, posting 11 goals and 41 points. 

Edmundson, who will be arbitration eligible as a restricted free agent again next summer, was drafted by the team in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft. 

The Blues have just $1 million in cap space left, per CapFriendly, with one restricted free agent left to sign defenceman Jordan Schmaltz.