Blues plan youth movement in effort to slash high payroll

ST. LOUIS -- In the wake of their second straight first-round NHL playoff exit, the St. Louis Blues plan to have a lower-payroll team whenever play resumes.

The Blues have been active in the free agent market in recent seasons and carried a payroll of about $60 million this season, among the top in the league, with a roster dotted by high-priced stars such as Chris Pronger, Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight, Al MacInnis and Pavol Demitra.

The big-ticket approach hasn't gotten the team very far. So once players and ownership agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, general manager Larry Pleau said Monday the team will have a different, cheaper and younger look.

"There's no doubt about it, we're going to have a different budget than we had this year," Pleau said. "I would say it's going to be considerably less.

"We're not going to be in the free agent market signing high-priced players."

Slicing the budget might be easier said than done.

MacInnis is likely to retire at age 40 following his second serious eye injury in two seasons, a detached retina that sidelined him most of this season. He's still having vision problems.

But Tkachuk and Weight are under contract for next season, and Pleau said the Blues definitely intend to make a qualifying offer to Pronger. Together, those three make about $30 million.

"We've said all along that Pronger is a guy we definitely want to build around," Pleau said. "We want Pronger around for a long time and our goal will be to try to find something that's right for both sides."

Both Weight and Tkachuk could be trade bait. Weight was perhaps the team's best player in the playoffs, but was inconsistent in the regular season, and Tkachuk has no goals in the last two postseasons.

"Privately, you judge yourself," Weight said. "Certainly I'm disappointed."

The team could cut some salary by making a qualifying offer to Demitra and then trading him. Both Demitra and Tkachuk have been playoff busts. Goalie Chris Osgood also was a bit of a disappointment with inconsistent play in the playoffs and might not be back.

The Blues have an option on his contract for next season.

"He could have played better, for sure," Pleau said. "We have a big decision to make with Chris, no doubt about it. But can I sit here and say he lost the series for us? I can't say that."

The status of forward Mike Danton also is in question after his arrest in what authorities described as a murder-for-hire plot last week.

"It's in the hands of the authorities," Pleau said.

Whatever changes they make, the Blues don't want their next team to be labeled a rebuilding effort. Their run of 25 straight playoff appearances is the longest streak in the four major sports, and they're proud of it even if they're never made the Stanley Cup finals during that time.

"You always want to try to be competitive," Pleau said. "Some of the teams that have lesser payrolls have been pretty competitive. We want to be entertaining."

Pleau said it's too early to discuss specific changes, but one player who likely won't be back is forward Scott Mellanby. Mellanby, 37, struggled through an injury-filled season and said the best scenario for him to consider playing again would be in a season shortened by a labor dispute.

"My gut feeling right now is I think I won't play," Mellanby said. "I didn't live up the expectations I have for myself and maybe it's time to give somebody else that ice time."