The St. Louis Blues will place forward Brandon Saad on unconditional waivers Thursday for the purpose of terminating his contract, the team announced.

Saad, 32, was waived by the Blues on Tuesday and cleared on Wednesday. He will not be assigned to the team’s affiliate in Springfield of the American Hockey League.

He is in the fourth season of a five-year, $22.5 million contract. Per TSN, the Blues will be freed from Saad’s $4.5 million cap hit after the contract is terminated.

Saad recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) and six penalty minutes in 43 games this season.

“Obviously the production’s not there,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Tuesday. “… There’s been a group that’s been here for a while that things don’t seem to be changing. Collectively, you have to start chipping further and further up.”

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Chicago, Saad has totaled 515 points (260 goals, 255 assists) in 906 career games with the Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche and Blues.

–Field Level Media