Friday, Jun. 19, 2009

Tkachuk is close to deal with Blues

Veteran forward says team has bright future

Veteran forward Keith Tkachuk received a contract offer from the St. Louis Blues this week and negotiations are in the final stages on an expected one-year deal.

An announcement could be made as early as today.

President John Davidson and much of the Blues' front office staff was in Las Vegas for Thursday's NHL Awards Show, where coach Andy Murray was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year.

Murray lost out to Boston coach Claude Julien, but Blues rookie center Patrik Berglund was voted to the NHL's All-Rookie Team.

Tkachuk, 37, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. However, he lives in St. Louis and his family is entrenched in the area through school and the local youth hockey program.

Tkachuk had 25 goals and 49 points last season, his eighth with the Blues. He failed to register a point in the team's four-game playoff loss to the Canucks.

"We're just waiting to hear back from them," Tkachuk said Thursday evening in a telephone interview. "I still want to stay here."

Tkachuk and his agent began speaking with the Blues on Tuesday and have continued to stay in touch with General Manager Larry Pleau.

"Larry kept me in the loop the whole time and was up front and honest with me," Tkachuk said. "I'm hoping something happens soon."

Tkachuk believes he has something more to offer the Blues. He's also excited by the return of three key injured players who missed all or most of the 2008-09 season, winger Paul Kariya and defensemen Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer.

"That's why I want to come back, I'm excited about this," Tkachuk said. "We were missing three key players for the majority of the year. I expect big things next year, so hopefully we'll get it worked out."

Tkachuk raved about the job Murray did to help push the team into the playoffs and hoped his coach would win Coach of the Year honors.

"It's unfortunate he didn't, but he had a heck of a run," Tkachuk said. "Just being in the category with the other nominees is pretty special and shows you what a great coach he is. We were behind the eight-ball and fought back together."

Berglund and roommate T.J. Oshie were the Blues' top candidates for the All-Rookie Team.

Berglund, who turned 21 on June 2, had 21 goals and 47 points in his first NHL season. He was the 25th overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft.

The last Blues player to make the NHL All-Rookie team was defenseman Barret Jackman in 2002-03.

Jackman also won the Calder Trophy that season as Rookie of the Year.

Previous All-Rookie selections from the Blues were Jim Campbell (1996-97), Rod Brind'Amour (1989-90) and Brian Benning (1986-87).