With a potential lockout looming Saturday, the St. Louis Blues on Friday assigned 24 players to their minor-league team in Peoria.
The list included defenseman Ian Cole and forward prospects Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz.
No decision has been made whether Tarasenko will choose to report to Peoria or return to play in the KHL, the Russian pro league.
"It has not been decided yet," Tarasenko said during his news conference earlier this month. "We have two options, to go to Peoria or to go to KHL. I'm going to speak with Doug Armstrong about that on Sept. 15 when we'll make the decision that's the best for me."
Forward Ty Rattie and goalie Jordan Binnington were assigned to their respective junior teams, with Rattie to Portland of the Western Hockey League and Binnington to Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League.
Defense prospect Jani Hakanpaa was assigned to his team in Finland, the Espoo Blues.
Other players assigned to Peoria were goaltenders Jake Allen, Mike McKenna and Paul Karpowich, defensemen Taylor Chorney, Mark Cundari, Cade Fairchild, Scott Ford, Brett Ponich and David Shields and forwards Jay Barriball, Cody Beach, Adam Cracknell, Stefan Della Rovere, Evgeny Grachev, Andrew Murray, Anthony Nigro, Anthony Peluso, Tyler Shattock, Brett Sonne and Sebastian Vannstrom.
Nothing seems imminent concerning a breakthrough in negotiations between the NHL and NHL Players Association in terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
In other Blues news Friday, former Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo signed a two-year, $5 million with the Detroit Red Wings.
"It's a great feeling," Colaiacovo told the Detroit Free Press. "It's the place from Day 1 where I wanted to be. It's Hockeytown, it's the Detroit Red Wings, it's a place, Joe Louis Arena, which I absolutely love playing in. First-class organization. It's a roster full with world-class players. I'm just glad to be a part of that."
Colaiacovo was an unrestricted free agent. The Blues could still make more moves before the season begins, but right now General Manager Doug Armstrong said he is comfortable with Cole as the team's sixth defenseman.
The 29-year-old Colaiacovo was Toronto's first-round pick in 2001. Bothered by injuries at times during his four seasons with the Blues, Colaiacovo contributed 18 goals and 106 points in 249 games.
He also had three assists in seven playoff games with the Blues.
Contact reporter Norm Sanders at nsanders@bnd.com or 239-2454.
