On the St. Louis Blues …
Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking what St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong should be focusing on this offseason.
1. Bringing back Ken Hitchcock for another year – He was able to get them past the Blackhawks and Stars after a successful regular season where they dealt with a lot of injuries. He’s one of the better coaches in the game.
2. Re-sign David Backes – The Blues captain recorded 14 points in 20 games. He’s moving down in their lineup towards the third line, so they can’t give him crazy term. Troy Brouwer’s play this post season may have priced himself out of St. Louis.
3. Consider trading Kevin Shattenkirk or Jay Bouwmeester – Replacing someone like Shattenkirk isn’t easy and a trade is more about economics and asset management. Shattenkirk has one more year on his deal before coming a UFA. Bouwmeester has a $5.4 million cap hit through 2018-19 and might be harder to trade. The Oilers and Bruins like Shattenkirk, and he’d be a good fit with the Lightning. The Red Wings could also use someone like Shattenkirk. The Wings were scouting the Blues during the playoffs, and they also like Brouwer.
On the Detroit Red Wings and Pavel Datsyuk …
Igor Eronko: SKA president on Pavel Datsyuk: “We’re in talks with him. I think we have a good chance to sign him”
Slava Malamud: The head of the KHL Board of Directors said that Datsyuk will be joining SKA. SKA will also be trying to sign Sergei Plotnikov and Viktor Tikhonov.
Aivis Kalnins: Pavel Datsyuk has a contract with the Red Wings, so it means he can’t sign in the KHL.
Darren Dreger: On Sunday, Datsyuk said he hadn’t made a decision yet.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Pavel Datsyuk’s agent, Daniel Milstein, confirmed that they received a contract offer from SKA “and we expect offers from others, as well. Pavel will not do anything until first he sits down with Ken Holland.”
Datsyuk doesn’t plan on meeting with Holland until mid-June as he is about to go on vacation. He won’t return to the U.S. until June 15th at the earliest.
“He is not going to make decision while on vacation,” Milstein said. “He is not going to announce anything before he talks with Ken.”
Datsyuk was to receive a $2 million bonus back in February that was contingent on him honoring the entire three-year contract – he didn’t receive it.