St. Louis Blues Trade Rumors

Blues pursued Kovalchuk
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February 5
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Blues President John Davidson acknowledged Thursday night that the club had "legitimate interest" in trading for Ilya Kovalchuk before the star forward was dealt to New Jersey earlier in the day. "We had been working at it for the better part of the week," Davidson said. "We had great conversations with Atlanta. We talked to them about various thoughts and ideas and put (a trade proposal) together. It never came to fruition." The Devils acquired Kovalchuk from Atlanta for defenseman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick this year. Davidson said the Thrashers were asking for "a piece or two that we weren't willing to give ..."
Blues recall defenseman Tyson Strachan from Peoria before trip
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January 25
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
 
"The Blues Sunday recalled defenseman Tyson Strachan from their American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria. Strachan, 25, has played in 31 games this season with Peoria, collecting 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) along with 48 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman has also played in six games for the Blues this season, recording two assists and four penalty minutes. Strachan made his National Hockey League debut with the Blues last season and has played in a total of 36 NHL games, notching five assists and 43 penalty minutes."
Blues send Pietrangelo back to juniors
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January 7
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Alex Pietrangelo wanted a gold medal at the World Junior Championships, an award for the top defenseman at the tournament and a one-way ticket to San Jose to rejoin the Blues. Pietrangelo, 19, received one of the three. The U.S. edged Canada 6-5 in overtime in Tuesday's championship game, giving Pietrangelo a silver medal. After the tournament, he was honored as the top defenseman, a reward for his three goals, nine assists and plus-9 rating in six games. Then late Tuesday night, the Blues announced they were sending Pietrangelo back to his junior hockey team, the Niagara IceDogs, instead of returning him to the NHL. "As an organization, we're extremely proud of what he did," Blues ..."
Blues meet with Johnson's agent
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December 17
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues have opened preliminary talks on a contract extension for defenseman Erik Johnson, the club's No. 1 overall pick from 2006. Johnson, 21, is in the final season of a three-year, entry-level contract, which is the basic contract for rookies following the NHL lockout in 2004-05. Johnson's contract has an annual base salary of $765,000, but he could earn as much as $3.7 million if he reaches all of his incentives. The Blues will still hold Johnson's rights when the entry-level contract expires next summer, but as a restricted free agent, he will be allowed to receive offer sheets from other NHL teams. The Blues would have the right to match the offer or receive compensation. "I'm not ..."
Blue Jackets make minor trade
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December 8
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have made a minor-league trade today, sending winger Pascal Pelletier to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Brendan Bell and forward Tomas Kana, The Dispatch has learned. Also, Syracuse winger Brock McBride was sent to Peoria -- the Blues' affiliate -- for future considerations. Bell, 26, is a veteran minor-league defenseman. He's bounced around a lot since he was a third-round draft pick (No. 65 overall) by Toronto in 2001, from the Leafs to Phoenix to Ottawa to St. Louis and now the Blue Jackets' organization. In 101 NHL games, Bell has 7 goals, 21 assists and 51 penalty minutes. He spent 53 games in the NHL with Ottawa last season, putting up 6-15-21. In 22 games with ..."
Injury to Klesla rattles Jackets
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December 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have seen defenseman Rostislav Klesla lying on the ice several times this season, trying to gather his senses and shake off the pain after absorbing a hit or blocking a shot. Last night, they knew the injury was different. They could hear the screams and see his right leg twitching as the Jackets medical staff attended to him. Enjoying his best start to a season, Klesla suffered a left leg injury, possibly a groin tear, in the first period of the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. He was transported to a hospital, where an MRI was to be performed. The Blue Jackets did not update his condition after the game, calling it only a lower body injury. They offered no ..."
Surgery for Oshie
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October 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Blues forward T.J. Oshie will miss approximately seven to 10 days after undergoing an appendectomy Saturday morning. Oshie felt nauseous following Friday's 3-1 win over Minnesota, in which he played 17 minutes, 33 seconds. He was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital, where after a scan, doctors decided on the operation. "I'm just glad he was able to get through the game," Blues President John Davidson said. "It's unfortunate it has to be this time of the year. You always like to see that stuff in the offseason, if you see it. But it's just the way it is." Blues goaltender Chris Mason underwent an emergency appendectomy last October. He was out for about two weeks, missing four games. The Blues ..."
Penguins: McKee could fill hole on defense
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July 10
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins might be close to signing a defenseman, one of the final missing pieces for their roster. Jay McKee, an unrestricted free agent who spent the past three seasons with St. Louis, is likely to decide in the next few days where he will spend the 2009-10 season, and that could be with the Penguins, his agent, Pat Morris, said yesterday. "When the Penguins come calling, it catches your attention," Morris said of the recently crowned Stanley Cup champions. "I think there are things he does well that the Penguins like. He can be a shutdown guy." McKee, who turns 32 before the season starts, is considered a skilled shot-blocker. At 6 feet 4, 203 pounds, he adds a physical presence. The ..."
Blues gear up for NHL draft
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June 26
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"In 1983, the Blues didn't make a single pick in the NHL draft. In fact, they didn't even show up to the draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum. Prior to the '83 draft, the NHL had blocked the Blues' attempt to move the team to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and a club that was in heavy disarray traveled no one to the draft. No one will ever know which players the Blues missed out on, in a draft in which Bob Probert went in the third round and Dominik Hasek fell to the 10th round. Twenty-six years later, the NHL draft is back in Montreal this week for the fifth time since then, and yes, the Blues are actually here. But they aren't armed with a lot of picks, just five, as they prepare for the ..."
Heatley gives Sens wishlist
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June 24
Ottawa Sun
 
"Dany Heatley has told the Senators where he wants to go. But if the Senators can't trade him before a $4-million (all terms US) bonus kicks in on July 1, they may tell him where to go. Senators GM Bryan Murray expects talks will heat up this week at the NHL draft in Montreal as several league sources confirmed Heatley's agents have given the club a wishlist of up to 10 teams. But there could be some flexibility -- he may agree to go somewhere not listed. Sources told Sun Media the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were among the teams submitted to Murray by Heatley's agents J.P. Barry and Stacey ..."
Blues are close to Tkachuk deal
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June 19
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues want Keith Tkachuk back, Tkachuk wants to be back with the Blues and both sides may get their wish soon. Tkachuk, 37, received a contract offer from the club this week and the two sides are closing in on a deal, one that could be done today. Tkachuk will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month and has said he wants to finish his career as a Blue. Blues President John Davidson said: "It's close ... we're trying to keep the phones going. We want to get another year out of Keith and he wants to stay in St. Louis. There's common ground there.""
Blues' Eric Brewer expects to be ready by camp
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June 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Eric Brewer says the words "career threatening" have never entered his vocabulary. Nearly six months after his first back surgery, and six weeks since a second procedure, Brewer believes he'll return as a captain and defensman for the Blues. In fact, he insists he'll be ready for the start of training camp in September. "I'm very confident," Brewer said. "You surround yourself with people that give you the advice you need, you believe in them and away you go. You set some goals and it's amazing how many things will work. I fully plan to start in September and don't have any plans not to. If the worse case happens and I wasn't (able), then I'll deal with that then." While Brewer remains ..."
Sundin, Kariya both likely out
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April 21
Vancouver Province
 
"Mats Sundin played a little coy and Paul Kariya played a little defence Monday. Sundin and Kariya have combined for 131 career NHL playoff games, but the injured stars aren't expected to add to that total tonight in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series. After all, why rush either player back with the Vancouver Canucks holding a commanding 3-0 series lead on the St. Louis Blues? Sundin could rest until next week. Kariya could rest until next season. Sundin is sidelined day-to-day with a hip/groin injury. The Canucks centre suffered the ailment during the third period Friday when he got tangled up and fell awkwardly into the back of the net during a 3-0 win at GM Place. He ..."
Kariya practising at D? He's likely not ready to play
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April 21
Vancouver Sun
 
"Paul Kariya practised Monday as a defencemen, which means one of two things: either the St. Louis Blues are addressing their weakest position, or the North Vancouver winger isn't playing Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. On his second day back skating with the Blues since undergoing hip surgeries in January and February, Kariya worked from the blue line — normally evidence that a forward won't be anywhere near his team's game lineup. Kariya's first practice was Sunday morning, but he did not play that night when the Blues lost 3-2 to fall behind 3-0 in games to the Canucks. With the series almost certainly lost, there seems little reason for Kariya to risk playing in Game 4. "After ..."
Paul Kariya may return to Blues for Game 4
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April 20
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues are accustomed to sour news when it comes to injuries. By now, you know the medical log. One by one, key players went down during the regular season - Erik Johnson, Paul Kariya, Andy McDonald, Eric Brewer and so on. But as the team hopes to extend its playoff life in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, it could be realizing some exciting injury news for a change: Kariya could be back. The Blues' highest paid player skated with the team Sunday morning before Game 3 at Scottrade Center. "We'll see," Kariya said. "Dr. (Marc) Philippon cleared me to come back to the team and practice with the team and resume my day-to-day activities. We'll go from there." He added: ..."
Kariya will practice with Blues Sunday
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April 19
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Blues left winger Paul Kariya is expected to practice with the team Sunday morning, but he will not play later in the day in Game 3 of the club's first-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks. Kariya has not played since Nov. 5 because of a hip injury, which required surgery in January. The injury eventually led to surgery on his other hip, in February. The Blues had indicated that Kariya might be available for the start of their series against the Canucks, but he missed Games 1 and 2. A source said Kariya has experienced general soreness during his rehab. Depending on his status after Sunday's practice, Kariya might be available at some point in the series - perhaps as soon as ..."
Kariya did not travel with Blues to Vancouver
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April 14
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"On a sunny Monday in Vancouver, several Twin Otter water aircraft were seen landing in Coal Harbor, near the Blues' hotel. Not seen on any of the arrivals, however, was left winger Paul Kariya. Although there were indications from the Blues that Kariya could be available for Game 1 of the Blues-Canucks series Wednesday, the team said Monday that the veteran left winger, who had surgeries on each hip, is not in Vancouver and doesn't have a flight booked. "Paul is not here," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "He is not practicing with us, and until I see him on the ice here, he's not part of the equation. When Paul's here, we'll start thinking about him. But at this time, he's not here." Kariya ..."
St. Louis Blues weigh bringing Paul Kariya back into the lineup
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April 10
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"In 2001-02, Colorado's Peter Forsberg missed the entire regular season while recovering from spleen surgery. But when the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche qualified for the postseason that year, Forsberg was deemed healthy enough to rejoin the team. He not only played, Forsberg also led the Avs to the Western Conference finals with a team-high 27 points before they were ousted by Detroit. Now the Blues are facing a similar situation with Paul Kariya. Out since November with a hip injury that eventually required surgery, which led to another surgery on the other hip, Kariya is in Colorado this week in an attempt to get cleared by doctors and return to the Blues' lineup. Like ..."
Blues' Kariya could be back by playoffs
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March 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"If the Blues advance to the NHL postseason, there could be an added reward for the club. Forward Paul Kariya, who has had surgery on both hips, is saying through the Blues that he could be ready to return for the first round of the playoffs in mid-April. Kariya, who hasn't played since Nov. 5, underwent surgery on his left hip Jan. 5 and the right hip Feb. 10. The team has been discreet with the details of Kariya's operations, but it's believed he had torn labrums in each hip and an issue with his left hip socket. Blues President John Davidson spoke with Kariya this week and said the left winger is optimistic about playing again this season. "He skated for about an hour (Monday) morning, ..."
Deadline sellers unlikely to see big returns
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March 4
Toronto Star
 
"More and more, today's trade deadline appears to be a prelude to that which lies ahead. To a significant degree, much of what we'll see today – or don't see today – is the direct result of 30 clubs trying to forecast the future in terms of where the industry is heading and, in particular, where the salary cap may be headed. In fact, there were moves yesterday that were indicators of what teams are thinking. Nicklas Backstrom signed a new contract to be the starting goaltender with the Minnesota Wild, and the salary was significant, an average of $6 million per season."
GMs go down to the wire
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March 4
Toronto Star
 
"Coffee brewed, scouting charts laid out, and lists of wants and needs neatly organized, the general managers of the NHL's 30 teams will meet in boardrooms across North America this morning prior to the trade deadline. Around them will be their confidantes, assistants and scouting directors ready to dial phones, buzz the BlackBerrys, text the messages and e the mail. Reputations will be carved, saviours will be anointed, nerves will be frayed, and regrets – there'll be a few. If things begin as normal, the morning will go slowly from a public perspective: Perhaps a few fourth liners, or fifth defender for some low-round picks as selling GMs try to talk up the price to the buyers. Behind ..."
Blues keep options open on trade front
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March 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Two days away from the NHL trading deadline, with the Blues on a three-game winning streak and three points out of a playoff spot, the suspense is building about any moves the team might make. For the second time in three years, Blues left winger Keith Tkachuk, an unrestricted free agent after the season, is at the center of the talk. And, almost like clockwork at the deadline, there is also speculation that the Blues are interested in reacquiring Anaheim defenseman Chris Pronger. The Blues can expect some heavy interest in Tkachuk, who has 18 goals and 18 assists this season, but if the Blues do trade him, it could signal that they're not confident in their playoff chances. "All options ..."
Deadline provides good theatre
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March 2
Globe and Mail
 columnist Eric Duhatschek
"This is how the sands can shift in the ridiculously close NHL standings, with the trading deadline less than 72 hours away: At the all-star break, during the final week of January, it looked as though the only bona fide seller in the Western Conference would be the 15th-place St. Louis Blues, a team undermined for much of the season by injuries, limited scoring and so-so goaltending. The Blues featured at least one tradable commodity - left winger/centre Keith Tkachuk - who would be of some interest to a contender. Every week, a new version of the Tkachuk to the Boston Bruins rumour made the rounds. In the meantime, the Blues quietly chipped away at the gap between them and eighth place. ..."
Pronger likely on the move...and other trade chatter
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March 2
Ottawa Sun
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"The Blues are going to make a serious pitch for Ducks D Chris Pronger and could be offering up LW David Perron as part of a package in return. The Ducks are almost sure to deal Pronger, who has one year and $6.25 million left on his contract. He probably wouldn't mind returning to St. Louis, where he played for seven seasons. The Bruins have shown mild interest in Pronger as have the Capitals, Leafs and Flyers ... The Kings have been fielding calls for D Sean O'Donnell, but there's a strong belief he'll be re-signed. Los Angeles D Tom Preissing returned from injury yesterday against the Blackhawks and the Kings hope to move him ahead of O'Donnell ... The Sharks, Oilers and Bolts are ..."
Trade winds shift East
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March 1
Boston Globe
 
"Is Chris Pronger walking through that door? Or Erik Cole? How about Tomas Kaberle? Maybe a homecoming party for Keith "Walt" Tkachuk? For the better part of the last three weeks, the NHL rumor mill has been humming along at warp speed, well in advance of Wednesday's trade deadline (3 p.m.). Entering the weekend, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli was still busy making calls, but he had downgraded slightly the prospect of adjusting his Eastern Conference-leading roster. "The Western Conference is so tight," said Chiarelli, who has been saying for some time that he would like to add some scoring at forward and depth at defense. "I don't think that will change prior to the deadline. If ..."
D-Day looms
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February 28
Edmonton Journal
 
"Trade deadline day, in the words of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, is a mixed bag -- "an awful day, an exciting day, a day full of magic, also a day full of very poor decision making." While we've basically had a league-wide roster freeze for the last five months because of salary cap issues with teams, the trade deadline is the one day where GMs actually try to appease (a) braying fans, (b) players who are looking for a jolt, and (c) coaches who can't transplant hands on Shean Donovan or get a heart that beats for Tyler Arnason. You always get some strange trade ideas on Internet sites -- like Edmonton Oilers unrestricted free agent Erik Cole and a fourth-round draft to ..."
NHL teams have stars in their eyes
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February 26
Buffalo News
 
"The NHL trade deadline is next Wednesday, and nobody is quite sure what to expect in the days ahead. Six teams were within nine points of fourth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday night. Eight points separated fifth-place Vancouver and 13th-place St. Louis in the West. Buy, sell or flip a coin? So many teams, so many players, so many possibilities. Several superstars are almost certain to change addresses, and several more are capable of pushing teams into contention. Here are a few items worth watching leading into Wednesday while pondering trade rumors du jour. STAR GAZING Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida. General Manager Jacques Martin didn't rule out trading ..."
Hatchets buried in trade talk with Canucks
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February 26
Vancouver Sun
 
"If a deal is there, then grudges be damned. St. Louis Blues president John Davidson and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke both claimed Wednesday they would talk trade with the Vancouver Canucks if it was in their best interests. Davidson was incensed last July when Canuck rookie GM Mike Gillis made a predatory offer sheet for Group 2 free agent winger David Backes. The Blues promptly matched the three-year, $7.5-million Backes offer and then retaliated by offering Steve Bernier an inflated $2.5 million on a one-year deal. The hatchets are buried, insisted Davidson, with less than a week to go until the NHL’s trading deadline and the Blues possibly moving veteran forward Keith Tkachuk. ..."
Jackets looking to be savvy first-time buyers
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February 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The NHL trade deadline is one week from today, and the Blue Jackets will be buyers for the first time in franchise history. "I believe we have a good chance to get in (the Stanley Cup playoffs) this season," general manager Scott Howson said. "We're not subtracting from our roster, I can tell you that." Between now and 3 p.m. Wednesday, myriad variables are at play. But the Blue Jackets' priority remains adding a center. Buffalo's Tim Connolly -- highly skilled but highly prone to injury -- keeps popping up in the NHL rumor mill. The Sabres are in the playoff picture, but word is the club would rather get something in return for Connolly than let him leave as an unrestricted free agent ..."
Bruins Shopping For A Forward
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February 25
Boston Globe
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"The trade deadline is a week from today, at 3 p.m., and there remains no telling how aggressive Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli will be. Headed into the weekend, Chiarelli said his priority would be to add a forward, rekindling speculation that he might target Edmonton's Erik Cole or St. Louis's Keith Tkachuk. Entering yesterday, both clubs were below the playoff cutoff in the West, but they weren't so far out of contention as to be considered "sellers." Blues president John Davidson said he has yet to figure out whether he will be a buyer or a seller. He also said he has yet to speak with Tkachuk, who is on target to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. "Walt's been just ..."
All or nothing
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February 22
Toronto Sun
 
"Will the desperate Habs finally sever ties with Kovalev? Will the Panthers send big Bouwmeester packing to beef up their forward ranks? And what about Pronger, Havlat, Gaborik, Tkachuk... With the NHL trade deadline only 10 days away, Sun Media's Bruce Garrioch breaks down what each club needs -- and who's up for grabs as teams look to play let's make a deal. --- FLORIDA PANTHERS Needs: The Panthers have to decide what they're going to do with D Jay Bouwmeester, who won't be back next season. The club needs scoring up front and there's no question it would be able to fetch that in a trade. GM Jacques Martin could be the biggest player at the deadline. Who's available: D Jay Bouwmeester, D ..."
Trade talk doesn't faze Tkachuk
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February 6
Edmonton Journal
 
"It's that time of year again, less than a month from the March 4 NHL trade deadline, and St. Louis Blues veteran Keith Tkachuk is not paying attention to any rumours. But Tkachuk, an unrestricted free agent, just might end up one of the top guns for hire as teams look to shore up their rosters for a run for the playoffs. The 36-year-old forward has the experience (1,014 games), the size (six-foot-two, 232 pounds) and the scoring acumen (515 career goals, 1,016 career points) to make him a prime candidate to move to a contender. "I'm not paying attention to it ... hey, it's that time of year," said Tkachuk on Thursday. "We'll see what happens. We've put ourselves back into it (the playoff ..."
Blues defenseman Erik Johnson makes progress
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January 16
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Blues defenseman Erik Johnson says the "worst is behind me" in his seasonlong rehabilitation process on his right knee. Johnson, who was injured in a freak golf-cart accident in September, had surgery in mid-November to repair a torn ACL. He will report to doctors in about three weeks for a re-evaluation, but Johnson said Thursday that his rehab is going smoothly. "Five days after surgery, I was able to start some range of motion and walk around on it almost immediately with crutches," Johnson said. "It was tough, but the worst is behind me and now I can just gear forward toward next year." Johnson is working out five days a week. He said the routine consists mostly of leg curls and leg ..."
Blues count on tough Legace
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January 16
Rocky Mountain News
 
"Put Manny Legace on a peewee team and he might find a way to hand the Avalanche a defeat. Small in stature at 5-foot-9, the St. Louis Blues goalie almost always comes up big against the Avalanche, as he did Thursday night before 17,545 at the Scottrade Center. Playing on a last-place Blues team that has allowed more goals than anyone in the Western Conference, Legace made 24 saves in a 5-2 win. "I don't own the Avalanche," said Legace, who has won 14 of 17 career decisions against Colorado, with three shutouts and a 2.07 goals-against average. "I think they have some investors. No one owns any team in this league. You just have to be ready to play every night." The two-game trip into the ..."
Andy McDonald might not return until after All-Star break
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January 13
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Just a few days ago, Blues center Andy McDonald felt that his return to the lineup was imminent. But while testing out his left ankle on the team's three-game trip, McDonald is still feeling pain, and now the Blues are thinking it might be wise to hold him out until after the NHL All-Star game Jan. 25. "Putting the skate on and practicing, it's not healing probably as fast as I thought," said McDonald, who missed his 25th consecutive game Sunday in Edmonton. "It's just too much pain. Probably strength-wise too, it's not where it needs to be. I don't want to say for sure that it's going to be after the All-Star break, but the way it's going right now, that's the way it looks." The Blues ..."
Quinn back on coaching radar
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January 10
Globe and Mail
 
"Pat Quinn put himself back on the radar of those tracking impending coaching vacancies in the NHL by taking the Canadian team to its fifth world junior hockey championship. It also created a frenzy of rumours this week that the team in the city where Quinn and his young charges won the gold medal last Monday - the Ottawa Senators - were about to fire head coach Craig Hartsburg or general manager Bryan Murray or both and hire Quinn. He also starred in rumours about Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Michel Therrien, two others said to be on the firing line. Yes, Quinn said Friday from his home in Vancouver, he's been getting a lot of calls. The trouble ..."
Brewer's absence is costly
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January 7
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Before he left the lineup on Dec. 13 with a herniated disk in his back, Blues defenseman Eric Brewer had played in 187 of the team's last 192 games. As radio-show callers and Internet posters blasted Brewer's performance over the past 2½ years, the truth is that no one really knew how much he meant to the Blues because he was always around. But now after surgery to correct Brewer's disk problem, the Blues are finding out exactly what life is like without their captain. Their record with Brewer was 12-13-3 this season, and the team's mark is 3-8 without the player who was averaging a team-high 25 minutes, 7 seconds of ice time before his exit. The effort of the Blues' makeshift defensive ..."
Andy McDonald set to return to St. Louis Blues' team practice
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January 6
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Andy McDonald's return to practice today with the Blues will determine how soon the center is back in the lineup. McDonald, who's been out since Nov. 16 with a fractured ankle, has skated on his own for more than a week, but how his ankle responds to a team practice will show whether he's progressed enough to even consider tagging along on this week's road trip. "I'm getting close, and hopefully I'll be back on the ice with the team pretty soon," McDonald said. "There's still a fair amount of pain there, but it's gotten a lot stronger and I'm able to do a lot of things I wasn't able to do before. … I'm looking forward to tomorrow and seeing how it responds." So are the Blues, who may have ..."
Alex Steen finding his place with St. Louis Blues
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January 5
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Before Saturday's 5-2 victory over Columbus, Alex Steen was perhaps best known by Blues fans for his highlight-reel assist on one of B.J. Crombeen's three goals on Dec. 8. Most of what Steen does as a third-line, checking-line winger goes unnoticed, but he showed again with two assists Saturday that he possesses uncanny vision. He scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal late in Saturday's game, but his pinpoint passes with the game still on the line defined his performance against the Blue Jackets. Steen set up the Blues' first goal with a backhanded pass to Brad Boyes, who moved the puck quickly to Brad Winchester for a power-play goal. In the third period, Steen sent a cross-ice feed to T.J. ..."
Brewer remains out of lineup
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December 17
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Defenseman Eric Brewer's upper-body injury isn't as minor or as fleeting as the Blues hoped, and the team's top defenseman missed a second game on Tuesday. Brewer sat out Saturday's game at San Jose and hasn't skated since Thursday. Coach Andy Murray still is optimistic Brewer could play Thursday in Washington or at home Saturday against Minnesota; the Blues have not placed Brewer on injured reserve, keeping their options open. "It just kind of came up," said Brewer, who is averaging more than 25 minutes a game, three minutes more than anyone else on the team. "I didn't feel well enough to play. We'll just see how it is. It's a day-to-day thing right now." On this day, he seemed to be ..."
Wings might open 2009-10 season in Sweden
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December 15
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings would welcome the opportunity to open the 2009-10 NHL regular season in Sweden. The Wings are Blues are in discussions with the NHL to make it happen, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. There are seven Swedes on the Red Wings' roster, including captain Nicklas Lidstrom and fellow defenseman Niklas Kronwall. "That would be an unbelievable experience, not only for myself, but for everyone here," Kronwall said Monday. Wings general manager Ken Holland wasn't available for comment Monday, but has been reluctant in the past to allow his team to play games in Europe. This season, the Rangers and Lightning played two games in Prague and the Penguins and Senators played two in ..."
Blues talk with NHL about opening next season in Europe
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December 14
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues are in the early stages of negotiations with the NHL to open the 2009-10 season in Sweden. Looking to gain global exposure, the NHL has opened each of the past two seasons overseas. In 2007, Anaheim and Los Angeles kicked off the league's regular-season schedule in London, England. This season, four NHL teams played their regular-season openers in Prague, Czech Republic, and Stockholm, Sweden. The Blues likely would play the Detroit Red Wings in Sweden, but both sides at this point say nothing is firm. "We've had some initial discussions with the league," Blues President John Davidson said. "We like the idea of it and we like the idea of bonding. We will have a young team, so it ..."
Possible job for Laviolette?
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December 7
Toronto Sun
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"Recently fired Carolina coach Peter Laviolette may not be out of work long. The whisper among executives is Laviolette could land with the Blues before the end of the season if St. Louis cans coach Andy Murray ."
Patrik Berglund moves back to St. Louis Blues' No. 2 line
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December 6
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Well, that didn't last long. Patrik Berglund played 1½ games on the Blues' No. 1 line with Keith Tkachuk and Brad Boyes. But on Friday against Calgary, Tkachuk was centering the top line and Berglund was back on the No. 2 line. It wasn't because Berglund didn't play well, however. The Blues wanted the bigger-body Tkachuk at center against the physical Flames. Meanwhile, T.J. Oshie returned in the lineup after missing 13 games with a high-ankle sprain, and coach Andy Murray was able to reunite the "Lunchbox line" of Berglund, 20, centering Oshie, 21, and David Perron, 20. "We've got some chemistry going … I think we complement each other well," Oshie said. "We all three like to cycle and ..."
St. Louis Blues' Manny Legace and Chris Mason battle for time in net
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December 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Blues coach Andy Murray was steadfast Monday that Manny Legace remains the club's starting goaltender. But after Chris Mason won his third consecutive game Sunday, Murray didn't rule out the possibility of continuing to play his backup. Mason has played three of the Blues' past five games, but each of those starts involved games on back-to-back nights. If Mason were to play Wednesday in Minnesota, after the Blues had two days off, it would signal the team has more confidence in its backup. "Manny is by merit the No. 1 goalie with the Blues," Murray said. "To me, that hasn't changed at this point. But we will review it as we always do. We haven't decided for sure. Whatever decision we make ..."
St. Louis Blues get help from four players from AHL
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November 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues' recent call-ups from the American Hockey League and their waiver-wire addition have contributed significantly to the team's recent surge. And while their names might not be familiar to fans, their production shouldn't come as a surprise. Steve Regier, Cam Paddock, Brad Winchester and B.J. Crombeen were each selected in the top five rounds of the NHL draft and have combined for 649 games in the AHL. Because of key injuries to the Blues' roster, they have been put in pressure situations and have passed the test. The Blues knocked off Minnesota 2-1 on Saturday night and have earned seven of eight points in their past four games. The club will play in Nashville on Tuesday and ..."
Agent: Shanahan to decide this week
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November 11
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Free-agent forward Brendan Shanahan will be signing with an NHL team before the end of this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday, his agent told the Courier-Post on Monday "Is Philadelphia a serious contender?" Rick Curran said Monday from his home in Devon, Pa. "Absolutely. There are people Brendan needs to talk to before he has all the information to make a decision." Curran said he and Shanahan have gotten back to all of the NHL teams that have "continually expressed interest" in signing the 39-year-old left wing. Curran would not identify the number of teams Shanahan is considering, but the Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks are ..."
Shanahan goes back on market
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October 31
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues have contacted the representative for free-agent forward Brendan Shanahan, but no offer had been made to the former fan favorite as of Thursday night. A few months ago, the Blues were one of several teams told by Shanahan's agent, Rick Curran, that the 39-year-old winger intended to return to the New York Rangers. But Shanahan grew tired of waiting for a contract offer from the Rangers, who are less than $1 million under the NHL salary cap, and decided to look at other offers. "I've told Rick that I can no longer wait and that it's time to move on," Shanahan told The New York Post. "Until now, Rick has been under instructions to tell inquiring teams that my focus was on ..."