Blues Trade Rumors

"The opening bell will sound on Canada Day Tuesday, marking the start of the NHL's free-agent season. Here's a look at some of the players who will be most coveted by NHL general managers."

"While sources say Ottawa GM Bryan Murray has exhausted every avenue to try to trade Emery, the indications are the Blues have held discussions with nearly every team in the NHL to see if they can find a goaltender for next season."

"The Senators can officially get rid of Ray Emery. The buyout period started yesterday and runs until June 30. It's expected the Senators will soon serve notice to the troubled goalie that his days with the club are finished. Before GM Bryan Murray sends Emery packing with a $2.25-million (all terms US) buyout, Murray will exhaust all trade options. Sources say there are a couple of teams interested in Emery, including the Blues. A source said a deal could be worked out if Murray is willing to add a prospect or a pick in this weekend's draft at Scotiabank Place."

"And the list just keeps on shrinking. Former Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong was scheduled to meet with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week to discuss a management position with Canada's most terminally perplexed NHL franchise. But Armstrong cancelled his session with the Leafs to sign with the St. Louis Blues. Sources told several media outlets yesterday that Armstrong, who was fired by the Stars this season, had agreed to join the Blues and would work closely with general manager Larry Pleau. Calls to Blues president John Davidson and Pleau were not returned last night, but a source said Armstrong's hiring would be announced today."

"According to sources, the Blues are definitely battling the Leafs to land Armstrong. Radio stations in St. Louis reported throughout yesterday that the Blues have a deal on the table for Armstrong to become the club's GM-in-waiting. Armstrong – or whomever the Blues hire – would take over full GM duties when incumbent Larry Pleau retires or leaves the club for personal reasons. Pleau's wife is battling cancer. Armstrong may not even be interviewed in Toronto for the full-time GM job, a post that is continually tied to Anaheim's Brian Burke despite the fact Burke has a year remaining on his contract. Armstrong, though, is high on the Leafs' plans for the management team."

"A month ago, Dave Nonis had no NHL team to call his own. Now he may have several options. While much has been made of the Toronto Maple Leafs making room for the fired Vancouver Canucks general manager in their hockey operations department -- the Burnaby native was interviewed the last three days, but wasn't offered the GM position -- he may land that job in St. Louis. Or, Nonis could wind up in Atlanta as GM if Don Waddell steps down from that post and becomes team president."

"If Dave Nonis isn't to be part of a newly structured Maple Leafs management team -- and a bridge to hiring Brian Burke -- he shouldn't be out of work for long. St. Louis Blues president John Davidson mentioned Nonis by name yesterday as a potential part of a revamped Blues' front office with general manager Larry Pleau. Pleau's wife Wendy is battling cancer and Pleau has been taking time off to be with her. Pleau might step aside to spend more time with her."

"After two days of meetings with the Maple Leafs' general manager search team, Dave Nonis has a much better idea of what the team's GM post entails. And it appears there now is a question of whether he even wants the job or if he will explore other options, of which there are several. Nonis left town yesterday and is expected back for further talks with the interview team headed by MLSE president Richard Peddie and Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke. Little else is known under the cone of silence imposed by the Leafs, but sources feel Nonis will explore all his options – and possibly even wait a year before deciding – because Toronto's offer is a complicated one."

"The Blues are interested in creating a new management position, team president John Davidson acknowledged Wednesday, saying he has spoken with former Vancouver general manager Dave Nonis about a job. Davidson said the person hired would report to Blues general manager Larry Pleau, whose contract expires in June but is likely to be extended. "We're always looking to improve," Davidson said. "We've talked about it, Larry and myself, about maybe adding another person to the management team to just be a part of our group. There's nothing imminent, and there's no rush on this particular need." Davidson said there were "a few" candidates besides Nonis, who was let go by the Canucks last ..."

"Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. president Richard Peddie met with Dave Nonis yesterday, and there's a theory making the rounds that Toronto would like to hire the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks to be by the side of interim GM Cliff Fletcher through the important summer months that include the entry draft and the free agency period. But sources in Vancouver have indicated Nonis has no interest in becoming an associate or assistant GM -- he wants the same title and role he had in Vancouver. If the Leafs want him to be something else, they might not get anywhere with Nonis. He reportedly also has interest from the Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues."

"Funny thing is, a year ago the Maple Leafs would have been thrilled to have a shot at landing Dave Nonis. The Vancouver Canucks, after all, had soared to a franchise-record 105 points under Nonis's leadership, largely because the youthful Canucks GM had managed to swindle the Florida Panthers out of goaltender Roberto Luongo. But that was then and this is now, and so Nonis, who's in town today or tomorrow to interview with Leaf president Richard Peddie and search committee chief Gord Kirke, is now being portrayed as a buffoon by some and a passive, sit-on-his-hands type by others. So what's the real story? Well, he's respected enough in the hockey world that he's already ..."

"Taking two more steps to infuse young talent into their club, the Blues signed 2007 first-round draft pick Lars Eller on Monday night and were close to signing 2005 first-rounder T.J. Oshie. Eller's deal was pending a physical, and although Oshie had yet to sign a contract, he was in St. Louis ready to take a physical."

"But Emery, who turns 26 in the fall, has done little to build up goodwill around the league. He's only played 134 NHL games and he's coming off a pedestrian 12-13-4 record with a 3.13 average and .890 save percentage. Here's the usual trade suspects: Tampa, Los Angeles, St. Louis."

"The Blues will finish with a record below last year's 81-point total, a result that seems unimaginable after the Blues jumped out to a mark of 22-14-5 at the halfway point. But the Blues are 10-22-8 since and quickly eliminated themselves from playoff contention... Davidson also will be reviewing the performance of Blues coach Andy Murray. Murray undoubtedly will be returning to the bench, but his style of coaching, which can sometimes border on suffocating according to some sources, will be evaluated in the offseason."

"There are several coaches on the hotseat as the regular season winds down; as many as 15 could be looking for work if their teams don't make the playoffs or underachieve in the post-season... There have been no contract talks between the Senators and Wade Redden, but that doesn't mean there won't be before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1."

"Is Murray losing the locker room? The grumbling is intensifying over Murray's many meetings and other matters. For his part, Murray has publicly questioned the players' effort. This isn't a happy group."

"They played their final game before Tuesday's NHL trading deadline Sunday night, and a 2-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes dropped the Blues to 0-2-1 on their three-game trip, perhaps signaling the end of any realistic playoff chances... Has Barret Jackman played his last game as a Blue? Has Bryce Salvador?"

"When Blues defenseman Barret Jackman goes on the league-wide market today, it will be a signal that the Devils couldn't come up with a satisfactory package to land the 2003 Rookie of the Year, an upcoming unrestricted who doesn't turn 27 until March 5... They made the case that their most pressing need really is for a center such as Chicago's Robert Lang."

"The Rangers are expected to know by early afternoon whether Dan Boyle, their primary target moving into tomorrow's trade deadline, will be available... Contrary to reports, the Rangers have no interest whatsoever in Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe. The Blueshirts do have interest in renting St. Louis' prospective free agent defenseman Barret Jackman, but the price in return is expected to be far too high for Sather's liking."

"They have four pending unrestricted free agents — most notably defensemen Barret Jackman and Bryce Salvador — and how much wheeling and dealing the Blues perform likely depends on whether the team is able to re-sign those two players. Center Ryan Johnson and defenseman Matt Walker also will be unrestricted free agents this summer."

"The Devils are looking for defense and a league source said they've been scouting St. Louis Blues defensemen Bryce Salvador and Barret Jackman."

"And as for trading Jaromir Jagr, don't hold your breath... As usual, expect Sather to deal with GMs with whom he has some personal connection - such as longtime pals Brian Burke of Anaheim, Kevin Lowe of Edmonton or Doug Risebrough of Minnesota or former Edmonton assistant GM Scott Howson (Columbus), former Rangers broadcaster John Davidson (St. Louis) and Phoenix GM Don Maloney, who was Sather's longtime second-in-command with the Rangers."

"According to sources, Blues defenseman Barret Jackman rejected a multi-year contract offer from the team this week."

"Defenseman Bryce Salvador left no room for misinterpretation: He wants to continue his career with the Blues next season. “Definitely,” said Salvador, who could become an unrestricted free agent this summer. “I’ve been fortunate to be here my whole career. I’ve been in the organization for 10-plus years now; it’s been a good time.” After a pause, Salvador added, “But sometimes what you want isn’t always what you get. So we’ll just see how it plays out.”"

"In the midst of the snow-capped peaks of Davos, Switzerland, the Spengler Cup could go a long way in clarifying the respective hockey futures of former Maple Leafs Doug Gilmour and Curtis Joseph. For Gilmour, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Canadian entry in the holiday tournament, the experience should help him determine if he has the appetite to one day occupy a full-time spot behind the bench of an NHL team. For Joseph, the opportunity to showcase his talents on an international stage hopefully will send a message to any NHL teams in need of goaltending such as the Pittsburgh Penguins that, yes, he remains primed to turn away shots at the age of 40."

"The Blues have until Sunday to decide whether to let David Perron join Team Canada for the Under-20 World Junior Championships, which begin later this month in the Czech Republic. Murray said Tuesday that if Perron can crack the Blues' lineup — he's been a healthy scratch the past four games — he could stay in St. Louis. If not, it's likely he'll be headed to the tournament and could miss as many as five NHL games."

"Blues forward Petr Cajanek, who was placed on waivers earlier this month and assigned to the Peoria Rivermen after he cleared, is close to being loaned to Ak Bar Kazan of the Russian Super League. Cajanek, 32, played five seasons with the Blues and recorded a career-high 48 points in 2006-07."

"Blues rookie David Perron is a candidate to play for Team Canada at the Under-20 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Perron would miss at least five games in that stretch, but the Blues haven't decided if they are going to send him."