Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009

Blues hope to work out a deal for Polak

Club seeking someone to back up Mason

With restricted free agent defenseman Roman Polak still unsigned, the St. Louis Blues are facing a potentially similar scenario to the one they faced last summer with forward David Backes.

The Blues made their qualifying offer to Backes to retain his rights, just as they did by qualifying Polak recently at $522,500 -- the league required 110 percent of his $475,000 salary last season.

And there's still a chance the Blues and Polak will come to an agreement on a multi-year contract extension.

But if he remains unsigned, other teams can tender him an offer sheet. The Blues then have the right to match that offer sheet, or accept compensation for Polak.

A year ago, Vancouver signed Backes to a three-year, $7.5 million deal that was quickly matched by the Blues. Backes went on to have a breakout season with a career-high 31 goals and 54 points in 82 games, along with a team-leading 204 hits.

If that type of production continues or increases, the Backes deal will be a relative bargain.

The Blues have been talking with Polak and his agent, Los Angeles-based Allan Walsh, over the last few weeks.

"That's his prerogative to wait and we're just trying to work on putting something together," Blues President John Davidson said. "We own his rights, there's no panic in the streets or anything. Some things take time. We've discussed amongst ourselves what Roman and his agent are asking for. We're in the middle of it."

Davidson said the Blues also continue to negotiate with free-agent forward B.J. Crombeen, who received his qualifying offer.

Polak was third among Blues defenseman in average ice time (21 minutes, 32 seconds per game) last season as he blossomed into one of the team's top young players.

A sixth-round draft pick in 2004, Polak played in a career-best 69 games and helped fill the void when veteran defenseman Eric Brewer was lost for the season with a back injury that required surgery.

Polak, 23, finished the season on the No. 1 defense pairing with veteran Barret Jackman. Polak is one of the team's quickest skaters and strongest players.

The Czech Republic native finished with one goal, 15 points and 45 penalty minutes.

The Blues' top priorities heading into the free-agency period -- either through signings or a trade -- are finding a goaltender with NHL experience to compliment Chris Mason and perhaps adding a veteran offensive defenseman that won't blow up the payroll.

"It's got to be the right fit," Davidson said. "We're going to look at everything. It's got to fit us and make sense for the player, then the contract has to make sense.

"We're on our game plan, we're in a good place and we're going to be patient. We're going to demand that we improve this year -- that's what we need and that's natural -- but we don't want to get derailed with our plan."

The Blues could have picked up some high-priced, quick-fix talent had they decided to trade for defenseman Chris Pronger or Ottawa forward Dany Heatley.

But they felt the asking price for both was too steep -- and either deal would have required first-round draft picks and moving some of the Blues' top young players.

"We don't want to be the team that throws a pitch that allows a team to hit a home run," Davidson said. "We didn't feel it was the right thing to do, and we didn't do it."

Heatley is also due a $4 million payout today, in addition to his $7.5 million salary. Heatley is a two-time 50-goal scorer who had a combined 80 goals the past two seasons.

Blues winger Brad Boyes scored 76 goals in the past two seasons, but makes $2.5 million -- $5 million less than Heatley.

Davidson said the return of three injured players -- defensemen Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson and winger Paul Kariya -- should give the team an upgrade.

"We're going to be better," Davidson said. "(The injuries) did give others an opportunity and people improved. We found Backes a center ice position and players like Polak and Brad Winchester and Crombeen got opportunities."

The Blues made qualifying offers to forwards Crombeen, Jonathan Filewich and defensemen Polak, Steve Wagner and Danny Richmond, and goaltender Chris Holt.

They did not make qualifying offers to defenseman Jeff Woywitka or former first-round draft pick Marek Schwarz, thought at one point to be the team's goaltender of the future.

Other unrestricted free agents are defenseman Jay McKee, goalie Manny Legace and forwards Dan Hinote and Trent Whitfield.

Olympic hopefuls

Blues forwards David Backes and T.J. Oshie and defenseman Erik Johnson were among 34 players invited to the USA Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp Aug. 17-19 in Chicago.

The camp will help Team USA officials pick the team that will represent this country at the 2010 Winter Olympics Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Backes and Oshie both played for the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships following the NHL season. Johnson has played for the U.S. junior team at the World Junior Championships.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke oversees the team, which will be coached by Ron Wilson.