Source: Blues, Senators engaged in strong dialogue regarding Hoffman, Brassard

Berglund, Sobotka, Fabbri said to be among players available 
should St. Louis make any moves leading up to trade deadline

By LOU KORAC
DALLAS -- It's no secret that the Blues are in the hunt for a scoring forward, whether it be a top-six winger or a center iceman, and with the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching on Feb. 26, word is that general manager Doug Armstrong won't be in the hunt for a player with an expiring contract/potential unrestricted free agent this summer.

Instead, it's believed that the Blues (34-22-4), tied for third in the Central Division with the Dallas Stars after a 2-1 loss Friday, will be active with someone that has term past this season if they are to change the landscape of their current roster.

(Ottawa Senators photo)

The Blues are said to have interest in acquiring forward

Mike Hoffman. 

According to a source, the Blues and Ottawa Senators have been engaged in serious discussion regarding two of the Senators' forwards, right wing Mike Hoffman and in the recent past few days, center Derick Brassard.

The source said if the Blues are able to consummate a deal, it would be either one or the other and not a packaged deal.

Among the names believed to be in the mix going to the Senators are forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund.

Hoffman, 28, would no doubt bolster the Blues' offense. He has 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 56 games for the Senators, who are looking to the future and in a tough spot regarding their playoff chances for this season. Hoffman, who has a modified no-trade clause that started this season, and he can list 10 teams that he cannot be traded to, has two years remaining on a four-year, $20.75 million contract signed July 27, 2016.

Brassard, 30, has been mentioned recently as a potential player available and would also enhance the Blues' roster. He has one year remaining on a five-year, $25 million contract signed July 27, 2014.

Brassard, who also has a modified no-trade clause, can submit a list of eight teams he would not accept a trade to.

Berglund, 29, is in the first year of a five-year, $19.25 million contract signed Feb. 24, 2017. He has full a no-move clause this season but the enticement for him to waive would be to play with best friend Magnus Paajarvi, who the Senators claimed off waivers Jan. 26, and the thought of playing with fellow Swede Erik Karlsson could be appealing.

Berglund has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 35 games after returning Nov. 29 from a dislocated left shoulder.

Sobotka, 30, is in the first of a three-year, $10.5 million contract signed after he returned from the Kontinental Hockey League last season; he has 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 59 games.

According to the same source, Robby Fabbri's name has also been mentioned as a candidate for trade, and reports have said the Senators requested to look at Fabbri's medical records on his surgically-repaired knee, which has been operated on two times. 

(Ottawa Senators photo)

Center Derick Brassard has been linked in trade

talk with the Blues.

Fabbri, 22, is out for the season after tearing his left ACL for the second time during training camp. He is set to become a restricted free agent this summer after signing a three-year, $3.142 million contract Sept. 7, 2014.

One pending UFA that could work for the Blues, who are among the teams that could make sense for pending free agent and native St. Louisan Patrick Maroon.

Maroon, 29, is finishing up a three-year, $6 million contract and would fill that David Backes-type power forward the Blues have seemed to lack since Backes left via free agency prior to last season. 

Maroon has 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 54 games with the Oilers; he's played with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton and Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry when Maroon was with the Anaheim Ducks from 2011-16.

The Oilers are all but out of the mix for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season and GM Peter Chiarelli, who has a history with Armstrong, could offer up the Oakville High grad Maroon to St. Louis for a smaller price.

And with Maroon's ties to St. Louis, it could make sense to take a flyer on him with hopes of signing him to an extension before he becomes a free agent on July 1.