"Just in time for this week's NHL draft, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has received his budget from club chairman Dave Checketts for the 2011-12 season.

Though not wishing to disclose the Blues' payroll ceiling, which could say a lot about the commitment level of an ownership group selling the team, Armstrong did say, "They've been good with me."

One of the bottom-level spending clubs in the NHL the past few seasons, however, isn't expected to veer from that course this offseason, as Checketts continues to search for a new buyer.

The Blues, who had a payroll of $44.5 million in 2010-11, have $39 million committed to next season's payroll. They will need to spend at least $7 million more to reach the salary-cap floor, which has been projected at $46.5 million. But much of that difference will be made up when the club re-signs its remaining restricted free agents, who include T.J. Oshie, Matt D'Agostini, B.J. Crombeen, Ben Bishop and Ryan Reaves.

Therefore, with a couple of holes still to fill on the roster, Armstrong will need to be creative when he arrives at the draft Friday. The selection weekend is typically a time for trading around the league, and Armstrong has said that he's warm to the idea of improving the team's roster by trading draft picks.

For the first time since 2002, the Blues don't own a first-round pick — this year's pick went to Colorado in the trade for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk — but they do have nine picks in all, including three in Round 2 and two in Round 3.

"Our focus now entering the draft, we're not against using draft picks to improve our team for next season," Armstrong said. "The success of next year's team is going to come from the players on our roster now. The (David) Backes's, (Chris) Stewarts, (Andy) McDonalds — that's the core group that's going to be asked to do the yeomen's work."