The St. Louis Blues may still be in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, but it appears management is already focused on retooling for next season.
With seven main players set to become unrestricted free agents July 1, and six nearing restricted free agency, the Blues have a number of decisions to make this summer.
David Perron, Alex Steen and Erik Johnson are among the RFAs-to-be that the Blues need to lock up to new contracts.
With a cap hit of $3.7 million, Johnson should see his next contract with an annual salary in and around that figure, though Perron and Steen will receive raises.
Veterans Keith Tkachuk, Paul Kariya and Darryl Sydor lead the list of impending UFAs. Tkachuk has expressed his desire to play another season in St. Louis, however it's believed Kariya will entertain offers on the open market, while Sydor is contemplating retirement.
The Blues must also decide whether or not they want to keep Chris Mason between the pipes.
Mason has posted a 24-20-8 record, to date, but with a number of options potentially available this summer, the Blues may go in a different direction.
Evgeny Nabokov, Dan Ellis, Marty Turco, Vesa Toskala and Jose Theodore are among those set to become UFAs in July, while the Blues had already inquired about Montreal netminder Jaroslav Halak earlier in the season.
[ From the Editor ]
It'll be an interesting summer for the Blues. They tried to make a number of changes this season, via the trade front, but came up short. Brad Boyes was on the block in an attempt to shake up the roster, but no deal appeared close. Providing the likes of Kariya, Sydor and Carlo Colaiacovo leave as UFAs, the Blues will have extra money to pay their restricted free agents and be players on the open market. -- David Pagnotta
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