McRae signed a one-year contract with Assat Pori of Finland's Liiga on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

After bouncing around the AHL for the last few seasons, McRae has apparently decided that a move to European hockey is ultimately in his best interest. This past season, the 27-year-old managed just 19 points and an ugly minus-29 rating in 76 games for AHL Hartford, so unless he can sharpen his skills and emerge as a legitimate playmaker in Finland, we're not likely to see him back in North America anytime soon.

Philip McRae has signed with Tappara Tampere of the Finnish Elite League. McRae had seven goals and 18 points in 45 games with the AHL's Peoria Rivermen last season. The St. Louis Blues will retain his NHL rights, should he decide to return.

St. Louis winger Phillip McRae has decided to wear number 39 instead of number 38 this upcoming season. He is making the switch to honour Pavol Demitra and Igor Korolev, two of the players who were killed in a plane crash in Russia nine days ago, and who both wore number 38 for the Blues. Nice gesture on McRae's part. One has to wonder if the number is a little cursed, though.