Blues keep rights to Pronger by making qualifying offer

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have submitted qualifying offers for defenseman Chris Pronger and 11 other players.

Pronger, a restricted free agent, has until Aug. 15 to sign the team's offer of $7.2 million. Beginning Monday, he can sign an offer sheet with another team.

The Blues made qualifying offers to several other players Wednesday: Forwards Eric Boguniecki, Mike Glumac, Colin Hemingway, Ryan Johnson, Jamal Mayers, Mark Rycroft and Peter Sejna, and defensemen Bryce Salvador, Trevor Byrne, Brett Scheffelmaier and Mike Stuart.

And on Thursday, the Blues announced they have picked up the options for the upcoming season for goalie Patrick Lalime and defensemen Andy Roach and Matt Walker.

Lalime, 31, was 25-23-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average for Ottawa in 2003-04. He was acquired by the Blues in June 2004, but has not played with St. Louis due to the lockout that shut down the entire 2004-05 season.