St. Louis places former captain Drake on waivers

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have placed 14-year NHL veteran Dallas Drake on waivers, the first step in buying out the final year on his contract if he goes unclaimed.

Drake has played six seasons with the Blues, including two as captain.

Drake, 38, had signed a two-year contract for $2.2 million before last season and would have made $1 million next season. The Blues said they needed the roster spot heading into training camp.

If Drake clears waivers he will be paid two-thirds of his $1 million salary over the next two years. The salary cap hit to the team will be $1.1 million in 2007-08.

Drake signed as a free agent with the Blues in 2000. He scored 63 goals in 443 games.

Rights to Tkachuk

The Atlanta Thrashers sent the rights to free-agent center Keith Tkachuk back to St. Louis, reacquiring the conditional first-round pick they traded to the Blues in a deadline deal that helped Atlanta reach the playoffs for the first time.

The Thrashers gave up winger Glen Metropolit and their first-round pick in last week's draft to acquire Tkachuk in a Feb. 25 trade.

The trade allows the Blues to deal exclusively with Tkachuk for the rest of the week.