On the St. Louis Blues …
Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The 31-year old Troy Brouwer had a $3.66 million cap hit this past season and you can expect he’ll get a raise on a multi-year deal from someone. The Blues would like to keep him but they may not be able to afford it. David Backes is a bigger priority.
Backes will be using Ryan Kesler‘s six-year, $41.25 million deal as a comp.
RFA Jaden Schwartz will be a challenge. Schwartz could use Paul Stastny ($7 million a season) and Vladimir Tarasenko‘s ($7.5 million for eight-years) contracts, though Stastny was a UFA and Tarasenko had a little more standing. If looking for longer-termed deal, Schwartz may have to take a little less. He could take a shorter-term and then look to cash in as a UFA.
The 32-year old Alex Steen has a year left on his deal and GM Doug Armstrong may want to make a contract extension offer this offseason.
There is also Kevin Shattenkirk who has a $4.25 million cap hit, with a $5.2 million salary. Trade rumors have been around for a while. Armstrong could trade Shattenkirk for prospects and/or draft picks.
Patrik Berglund and his $3.7 million cap hit could get some trade interest. He has a year left on his deal with a limited no-trade clause.
Some fans would like the Blues to trade Jay Bouwmeester, but he has a no-trade clause and three-years at a $5.4 million cap hit.
A Kyle Brodziak re-signing could make sense for the right number.
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Coach Ken Hitchcock signed a one-year deal and it will be his final year coaching.
“I’m telling you right now, this is my last one-year deal,” Hitchcock said. “I’m not coaching after this year. This is it. So I’m done.
“I don’t know if I’m going to retire. I might move over to the media — we’ll see,” he said smiling. “but I’m not coaching after this year.”
For their head coaching position when Hitchcock retires, they may look from within, with Kirk Muller at the top of their list. Assistant coach Brad Shaw won’t be back with the team.