2011-12 St. Louis Blues Schedule

PRESEASON
SEPTEMBER
20 -- TAMPA BAY, 7 p.m.
21 -- at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
22 -- MINNESOTA, 7 p.m.
23 -- at Colorado, 7 p.m.
24 -- at Dallas, 7 p.m.
27 -- at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
29 -- COLORADO, 7 p.m.
OCTOBER
1 -- DALLAS, 1:30 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
8 -- NASHVILLE, 7 p.m.
10 -- CALGARY, 1 p.m.
13 -- at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
15 -- at San Jose, 9 p.m.
16 -- at Anaheim, 7 p.m.
18 -- at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.
21 -- CAROLINA, 7 p.m.
22 -- at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
26 -- at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
28 -- at Calgary, 8 p.m.
30 -- at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
NOVEMBER
4 -- VANCOUVER, 7 p.m.
5 -- at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
8 -- CHICAGO, 7 p.m.
10 -- TORONTO, 7 p.m.
12 -- TAMPA BAY, 7 p.m.
15 -- DETROIT, 7 p.m.
17 -- FLORIDA, 7 p.m.
19 -- at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
22 -- LOS ANGELES, 7 p.m.
23 -- at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.
25 -- CALGARY, 7 p.m.
27 -- at Columbus, 5 p.m.
29 -- at Washington, 6 p.m.
DECEMBER
2 -- at Colorado, 8 p.m.
3 -- CHICAGO, 7 p.m.
6 -- DETROIT, 7 p.m.
8 -- ANAHEIM, 7 p.m.
10 -- SAN JOSE, 7 p.m.
15 -- N.Y. RANGERS, 7 p.m.
17 -- at Nashville, 7 p.m.
18 -- COLUMBUS, 6 p.m.
21 -- at Colorado, 8:30 p.m.
23 -- at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
26 -- DALLAS, 7 p.m.
27 -- at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.
30 -- NASHVILLE, 7 p.m.
31 -- at Detroit, 6 p.m.
JANUARY
3 -- PHOENIX, 7 p.m.
5 -- EDMONTON, 7 p.m.
7 -- COLORADO, 7 p.m.
10 -- at Montreal, 6:30 p.m.
12 -- VANCOUVER, 7 p.m.
14 -- MINNESOTA, 7 p.m.
16 -- DALLAS, 7 p.m.
19 -- EDMONTON, 7 p.m.
21 -- BUFFALO, 7 p.m.
23 -- at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.
24 -- PITTSBURGH, 7 p.m.
FEBRUARY
3 -- LOS ANGELES, 7 p.m.
4 -- at Nashville, 7 p.m.
7 -- at Ottawa, 6:30 p.m.
9 -- at New Jersey, 6 p.m.
11 -- COLORADO, 7 p.m.
12 -- SAN JOSE, 6 p.m.
14 -- at Columbus, 6 p.m.
16 -- N.Y. ISLANDERS, 7 p.m.
18 -- MINNESOTA, 1 p.m.
19 -- at Chicago, 2 p.m.
22 -- BOSTON, 7 p.m.
23 -- at Nashville, 7 p.m.
25 -- at Winnipeg, 1 p.m.
27 -- at Calgary, 8 p.m.
29 -- at Edmonton, 8:30 p.m.
MARCH
1 -- at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
3 -- at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.
6 -- CHICAGO, 7 p.m.
8 -- ANAHEIM, 7 p.m.
10 -- COLUMBUS, 7 p.m.
11 -- at Columbus, 5 p.m.
13 -- at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
15 -- at Carolina, 6 p.m.
17 -- at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.
21 -- at Anaheim, 9 p.m.
22 -- at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.
25 -- at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
27 -- NASHVILLE, 7 p.m.
29 -- at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
31 -- COLUMBUS, 7 p.m.
APRIL
4 -- DETROIT, 6:30 p.m.
6 -- PHOENIX, 7 p.m.
7 -- at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Blues, Crombeen come to terms on two-year extension

Forward becomes sixth RFA to

resign; preseason schedule released

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Doug Armstrong may be a few hundred miles away, but the Blues' general manager continues to make issues back home a priority.

Like checking off another name from the team's restricted free agents to sign.

Armstrong, in St. Paul, Minn. for the NHL Entry Draft this weekend, has certainly been busy getting players signed. Patrik Berglund, Roman Polak, Vladimir Sobotka, Nikita Nikitin and T.J. Hensick all were set to become restricted free agents on July 1. But they all have new contracts in place.

Add winger B.J. Crombeen to the room after the 25-year old signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension Wednesday ($950,000 in 2011-12 and $1.05 million in 2012-13).

"His gritty play and leadership qualities fit in well with our mix of players," Armstrong said of Crombeen in a statement.

Crombeen, who will turn 26 on July 10, has spent the past three seasons with the Blues, which includes a career-high 80 games last season when he recording seven goals and 14 points to go with 154 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound Crombeen has appeared in 248 games in his four-year career, totaling 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) to go along with 509 penalty minutes.

Originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round (54th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Crombeen was claimed off waivers by the Blues on November 18, 2008.

* Blues announce preseason schedule -- The Blues will open the 2011-12 preseason schedule on Sept. 20 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team announced on Wednesday.

The Blues play host to the Lightning at 7 p.m. at Scottrade Center. It's part of an eight-game preseason schedule that includes two games each against the Lightning, Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado.

The NHL will release its 2011-12 regular season schedule today at 1 p.m. (central time).

* Blues hire Taylor -- The Blues also announced Wednesday the hiring of Tim Taylor as the team's Director of Player Development.

Taylor, 42, retired from the NHL following the 2007-08 season after a 13-year career that included stints with Detroit, Boston, the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay. He was named the Lightning's eighth captain in team history in 2006.

Taylor is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, winning with the Red Wings in 1997 and Tampa Bay in 2004.

"His success as a two-time Stanley Cup winner gives him a unique perspective to pass on to our young players," Armstrong said in a statement.

2011 Free Agent List (UFA/RFA)

With 2010-11 cap hit

ANAHEIM
UFA: F Teemu Selanne ($4.5), F Jarkko Ruutu ($1.3), F Brad Winchester ($700), F Joel Perreault ($510), D Eric Regan (525), D John DeGray (516), G Jean-Philippe Levasseur ($500), D Nigel Williams ($825), F Ryan Hillier ($750).
RFA: F Tomas Zaborsky ($653).

BOSTON
UFA: D Shane Hnidy ($500), F David Laliberte ($550), F Kirk MacDonald ($500), F Wyatt Smith ($500), F Jeremy Reich ($500), G Nolan Schaefer ($500), G Matt Dalton ($875), D Cody Wild ($850).
RFA: F Brad Marchand ($821), D Andrew Bodnarchuk ($577.5), F Juraj Simek ($500).

BUFFALO
UFA: F Mike Grier ($1.5), F Felix Schutz ($550).
RFA: F Dennis McCauley ($500).

CALGARY
UFA: D Steve Staios ($2.7), D Staffan Kronwall ($500), F Ryan Stone ($500), F John Armstrong ($644), D Josh Meyers ($590), F Hugo Carpentier ($530), D Gord Baldwin ($500), F Chris Chucko ($600), F Cam Cunning ($500), G Matt Keetley ($500).
RFA: None.

CAROLINA
UFA: F Cory Stillman ($3.533), F Troy Bodie ($500), D Zack Fitzgerald ($500), D Casey Borer ($500), F Nick Dodge ($500).
RFA: None.

CHICAGO
UFA: D Chris Campoli ($1.4), F Fernando Pisani ($500), F Ryan Johnson ($500), D Jordan Hendry ($600), G Marty Turco ($1.3), D Jassen Cullimore ($500), F Mathis Olimb ($600).
RFA: D Ivan Vishnevskiy ($846).

COLORADO
UFA: F David Koci ($575), G John Grahame ($500), D Shawn Belle ($600), F Julian Talbot ($550), F Tom Fritsche ($566), D Ray Macias ($550), F Harrison Reed ($533).
RFA: D Kyle Cumiskey ($600).

COLUMBUS
UFA: F Chris Clark ($2.633), D Craig Rivet ($3.5), D Anton Stralman ($1.95), G David LeNeveu ($550), D Jonathan Sigalet ($575), G Gustaf Wesslau ($900), D Michael Ratchuk ($850), F Petr Kalus (821), F Tomas Kana ($625), F Greg Moore ($550).
RFA: None.

DALLAS
UFA: F Brian Sutherby ($812.5), F Brandon Segal ($550), D Severin Blindenbacher ($1.112), D Trevor Ludwig ($525), G Brent Krahn ($500), D Guillaume Monast ($505).
RFA: None.

DETROIT
UFA: F Mike Modano ($1.75), F Ilari Filppula ($500), F Jordan Owens ($515).
RFA: F Dick Axelsson ($850).

EDMONTON
UFA: D Jason Strudwick ($725), F Gregory Stewart ($550), F Ben Ondrus ($550), F Matt Marquardt ($683), D Kevin Montgomery (593), G Bryan Pitton ($541), D Jordan Bendfeld ($525).
RFA: None.

FLORIDA
UFA: F Bill Thomas ($525), F Sergei Samsonov ($2.533), F Steve Bernier ($2.0), F Jeff LoVecchio ($605), F Triston Grant ($510), F Hugh Jessiman ($500), D T.J. Fast ($668), D Joe Callahan ($525), F Brady Calla ($603), F Jordan Knackstedt ($572.5), D James DeLory ($556).
RFA: F Shawn Matthias ($821).

LOS ANGELES
UFA: F John Zeiler ($558), F Rob Bordson ($900).
RFA: D Drew Doughty ($3.875), F Oscar Moller ($875), D Johan Fransson ($900), F Bud Holloway ($650), F Corey Elkins ($600).

MINNESOTA
UFA: F John Madden ($1.25), F Robbie Earl ($550), F Jean-Michel Daoust ($500), D Jamie Fraser ($500).
RFA: None.

MONTREAL
UFA: D Paul Mara ($750).
RFA: D Kyle Klubertanz ($550).

NASHVILLE
UFA: F Jamie Lundmark ($600), D Grant Lewis ($587.5), D Brett Palin ($550), F Steve Begin ($550), F Kelsey Wilson ($525), F Mark Santorelli ($708), F Dan Gendur ($543).
RFA: F Linus Klasen ($900).

NEW JERSEY
UFA: F Adam Mair ($515), D Anssi Salmela ($612.5), D Rob Davison ($500), D Olivier Magnan-Grenier ($500).
RFA: D Maxim Noreau ($575).

NY ISLANDERS
UFA: F Andy Hilbert ($575), F Robin Figren ($850), D Dustin Kohn ($715), G Joel Martin ($500), F Jeremy Yablonski ($500), F Rob Hisey ($500).
RFA: F Josh Bailey ($1.725).

NY RANGERS
UFA: D Bryan McCabe ($5.75), F Todd White ($2.375), F Jeremy Williams ($515), F Matt McCue ($559), D Tysen Dowzak ($533), F Devin DiDiomete ($508).
RFA: None.

OTTAWA
UFA: F Marek Svatos ($800), G Pascal Leclaire ($3.8), D David Hale ($675), G Mike Brodeur ($600), D Andre Benoit ($550), F Jason Bailey ($503).
RFA: F Roman Wick ($740), D Geoff Kinrade ($550).

PHILADELPHIA
UFA: D Nick Boynton ($500), F Garrett Klotz ($800), G Brian Stewart ($600).
RFA: None.

PHOENIX
UFA: F Ryan Hollweg ($500), F Matt Clackson ($500), G Joel Gistedt ($850), D Jeff May ($525), F Josh Lunden ($530).
RFA: F Kyle Turris ($2.695), D Jonas Ahnelov ($750).

PITTSBURGH
UFA: F Mike Comrie ($500), F Joey Haddad ($513).
RFA: None.

SAN JOSE
UFA: F Kyle Wellwood ($650), F T.J. Trevelyan ($500), F Kevin Henderson ($720), D Nick Schaus ($600), G Carter Hutton ($600), F Michael Swift ($541), D Joe Loprieno ($540), F Patrick Davis ($500).
RFA: None.

ST. LOUIS
UFA: F David Spina ($500).
RFA: None.

TAMPA BAY
UFA: D Mathieu Roy ($600), F Niklas Persson ($550), F Chris Durno ($550), F Mitch Fritz ($525), F Alex Berry ($850), D Vladimir Mihalik ($600), F Stefano Giliati ($546), F Levi Nelson ($538).
RFA: F Johan Harju ($900), G Riku Helenius ($821).

TORONTO
UFA: F Aaron Voros ($1.0), F Alex Foster ($500), F Brayden Irwin ($900), F Fabian Brunnstrom ($675).
RFA: D Luke Schenn ($2.975).

VANCOUVER
UFA: F Jonas Andersson ($675), F Andrew Peters ($500), G Tyler Weiman ($500), F MacGregor Sharp ($875).
RFA: F Viktor Oreskovich ($575).

WASHINGTON
UFA: D Brian Fahey ($500), G Todd Ford ($500), F Michael Nylander ($4.875), F Trevor Bruess ($875), D Joe Finley ($850), D Josh Godfrey ($845).
RFA: None.

WINNIPEG
UFA: D Freddy Meyer ($600), D Jamie Sifers ($525), D Noah Welch ($525), F Jason Krog ($550), F Jared Ross ($500), F Andrew Kozek ($531), F Ian McKenzie ($508).
RFA: D Zach Bogosian ($3.375).

Cole eager, determined to make big club

Defenseman spent time working out in

St. Louis, focused on making Blues roster

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- In the Blues' 2010-11 team media guide, Ian Cole's bio is listed with the team's regular players.

Was it a coincidence? Perhaps. But the Blues' 2007 first round draft pick out of the University of Notre Dame made it a tough decision right to the end last season on whether he'd make the team out of camp or not.

Cole was in competition with a trio of others fighting for one of two available spots with the big club. And when the 22-year-old came up just short in his quest, the news was tough pill to take but certainly understandable, as far as Cole was concerned.

But looking ahead to the 2011-12 season, Cole heads into it with tunnel vision: he's focused and determined to make the big club and nothing else.


Ian Cole scored a goal and added three assists in 26 games.  Getty Images

"For me personally, I want to be up here full time so I need to show them that I want to be up here," said Cole, who has been working out at the team's practice facility at St. Louis Mills with a couple handful of teammates. "I need to make that obvious by the shape that I come in at training camp. It's kind of hard to do that when you're not here all the time with your play and your attitude. But if you come into (training camp) in good shape, that's a good indicator that this kid wants to play ... and hopefully impress some people."

Cole continued, "As a rookie, you don't know what to expect. If you don't make it, you kind of understand. After having a pretty decent last year ... I thought I played pretty well with the Blues (and) I showed them I can play up here. I can handle myself. I'm not going to look too silly."

Cole was a regular recall from the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria frequently, considering the Blues' rash of injuries -- particularly on the defensive side of the ledger. He played in 26 games with the Blues, registering a goal, three assists and a plus-6 rating.

Cole was able to wet his appetite at the NHL level. It was a good experience. Now he wants to be a part of it full-time.

The Blues, barring any trades or free agent signings before the season begins, will open with Alex Pietrangelo, Barret Jackman, Kevin Shattenkirk, Roman Polak and Carlo Colaiacovo as the team's top five defensemen. They are shoe-ins. The team resigned Russian Nikita Nikitin to a one-year, one-way contract. The deal shows the Blues hold Nikitin in high regard and view the umlimited potential where he's concerned.

So Cole, who will battle with Nikitin for the sixth spot and likely go into camp as the odds-on favorite to be No. 7 unless barring any transactions, is determined and has one advantage in his favor going into next season: the experience factor.

"It's pretty much make the team or ... I don't want to say bust but it would be a disappointment to be sent down," Cole admitted. "I'm not saying it wasn't a disappointment last year, but starting off here and then having a good training camp will be a good indicator that I deserve to be up here and I'm hoping that's the conclusion."

That, and the fact that Blues players took motivation from watching Boston and Vancouver battle it out for the game's most prized possession: the Stanley Cup.

"Watching (Game 7) and looking back at that speechless NHL commercial they have ... that just epitomizes what it's like to win that trophy," Cole said. "You work so hard. It's the hardest trophy to win in sports, bar none.

"Game 7 ... that's the pinnacle right there. Maybe getting married would be a good day, your kids being born would be a good day, but winning the Stanley Cup ... come on, that would be awesome."

Which is why the 18th overall pick of '07 has taken part in strength and conditioning coach Nelson Ayotte's summer workout program.

"It's part of the process," Cole said. "There are some days where you can think to yourself how you're going to go easy on this workout or you don't want to do it today, but it really comes down to what you see on that night (Game 7). If you don't prepare for it now, you might not ever be able to experience what they have experienced in Boston. It's something that I want to experience more than anything."

Cole has since departed and will not return to St. Louis until sometime in August. He will continue to work out on his own, but he'll do so while continuing his education at Notre Dame, where Cole is majoring in psychology.

It doesn't mean Cole will take the rest of the summer for granted. These players realize their time is on the horizon, and they're putting in the necessary time to take those steps towards the playoffs and beyond.

"The summer's going to be crucial," Cole said. "This summer's going to be very telling to make those steps needed to be a playoff team next year. I'm on board with it. We're all stoked."

Pietrangelo getting jumpstart on new season

After breakout first campaign, Blues'
defenseman, teammates in midst of summer workouts

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- By all accounts, it's been a busy and hectic year for Alex Pietrangelo.

The Blues' defenseman completed his first full NHL season by playing in 79 of the team's 82 games for starters. But after the Blues missed out on the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, instead of making a dash to some exotic getaway for a little R&R, the 21-year-old was off to Slovakia to represent Canada at the World Championships.

Combined with the handful of preseason games, it was roughly a 90-game schedule for the Blues' cornerstone defenseman. For a lot of young players, it could be construed as more than enough games.



Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo                                               Getty Images

Yes, Pietrangelo did take some time off -- roughly 2 1/2 weeks -- after returning from Slovakia in early May, but it didn't take long to get back to work.

There's no time like the present to get ready for the 2011-12 season, right? That's how a number of Blues players are approaching it as they work out at the team's training facility at St. Louis Mills along with the help of strength and conditioning coach Nelson Ayotte.

"It's the third week into the workout to just kind of get back into the swing of things," said Pietrangelo, who's been joined by fellow teammates Carlo Colaiacovo, Ian Cole, Ben Bishop, Ty Conklin and a handful of team prospects in recent weeks. "You take a couple weeks off at the end of the season, but you kind of itch to wake up in the morning to do something because you're so used to it during the season. This is kind of the first step towards training camp."

By all accounts, Pietrangelo's first season as an NHL player was a successful one. In 79 games, he led the Blues' d-men in a number of categories, including goals (11), assists (32), points (43), plus-minus (plus-18) and average time on ice (22:00).

He then went on and arguably was Canada's most consistent player at the Worlds, leading the team in plus-minus (plus-9) in seven games.

Then it was off for some actual R&R. Even players that are in the best of shape need some time to allow the body to unwind.

However, Pietrangelo was more than eager to get back and resume daily workouts.

"(The 2 1/2 weeks is) a long time," Pietrangelo said. "You're just sitting around and not doing much.

"You don't jump into this right away and go crazy. You kind of ease your way into the summer program and Nelson's been really good with that. Right now, I'm slowly starting to get into the thick of it and the grind of the workouts."

The Blues offer their players a summer program of their choosing here in St. Louis. A number of players are working out on their own and the program is not required to be fulfilled. But whether here or at their summer homes, Blues players seem eager getting ramped up for what they hope is a playoff year.

"You tell Nelson what you want to work on and he'll tell you the exercises for you," Pietrangelo said. "To allow the guys to come here and work out and get under Nelson's supervision, it's really good to see. The coaching staff and the management like to see that."

The summer days, especially those that come immediately after the end of the Stanley Cup final, will be time spent wisely for those players that ran the gamut in these playoffs -- particularly the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks. But for the Blues, they want to be where the Bruins and Canucks were.

That's plenty of incentive to get the bodies amped up now.

"It's tough to watch them raise the Cup," Pietrangelo said. "We didn't make the playoffs, but it's still difficult to see. ... That's why you want to start working out now so next year, you get that opportunity. You want to know that your body's ready to go that far."

Especially for a Cup final Game 7, which Pietrangelo said is every hockey player's dream.

"You grow up pretending you're in the finals of the Stanley Cup ... Game 7, scoring that winning goal, but it's true," he said. "Watching that game, what an opportunity it would have been to experience what that would have been like to be a part of. This organization's going the right way. Hopefully one day, we'll get that opportunity."

Blues lock up Sobotka with three-year extension

Forward signs $3.9 million deal, joins Berglund,

Polak, Nikitin as impending RFA's to resign

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Another of the Blues' restricted free agent dominoes fell on Wednesday.

In a move speculated recently finally became a formality when the team reached agreement on a three-year, $3.9 million contract extension with forward Vladimir Sobotka.

Sobotka, who will turn 24 on July 2, will make $1.2 million for the upcoming season, $1.3 million in 2012-13 and $1.4 million in 2013-14.

The Trebic, Czech Republic native set career highs in points (29), goals (seven), assists (22) and games played (65) this past season with the Blues, his first since being acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for the rights to defenseman David Warsofsky at last season's NHL Entry Draft.

Sobotka's ability to play consistently at both ends of the ice was something the Blues were not willing to part ways with, especially with a player at a young age who's expected to continue to mature and skillfully progress.

"One of the things I respect about Vladi is his versatility," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "It's like dressing two players on a lot of nights. He can play left wing on your top line, be an anchor on your bottom two (lines), power play, kill penalties ... he's real versatile.

"You need two or three guys like that on a roster. I also think at his age, he's defined himself and we know what he's going to do now. He'll be able to provide more offense as he matures. But the type of player he is, he exemplifies what we want to be on the ice as competitors."

Sobotka, who could have been a RFA July 1, joins center Patrik Berglund and defensemen Roman Polak and Nikita Nikitin to resign prior to becoming RFA's. The team has also resigned forwards T.J. Hensick (RFA) and Chris Porter (unrestricted free agent). Both could have become free agents July 1.

Sobotka was originally drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round (106th overall) in 2005. He has appeared in 199 games during his four-year NHL career, totaling 51 points on 13 goals and 38 assists.

Blues lock up another piece, reward Polak with long-term contract

Defenseman was eligible to be RFA in July, gets five-year deal

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- When Roman Polak signed a two-year contract prior to the 2009-10 season, the Blues' message was simple: go out and prove yourself.

If Polak could prove he was worthy of a four- or five-year deal, he would reap the benefits and get that long-term security, both in length and monetarily.

Mission accomplished, because the Blues felt like the native of Ostrava, Czech Republic proved himself both on and off the ice, so they also rewarded the rugged defenseman with monetary security as well as length.

The Blues and Polak came to terms on a five-year contract that will pay the 25-year-old $13.75 million, with a $2.75 million cap hit per season. Polak's contract will pay him $2 million the first season, $2.45 million in the second season and $3.1 million in each of the final three seasons. The first two seasons are based on the fact Polak would have still been under restricted free agency status; the final three would have made him an unrestricted free agent had be been available.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made the announcement Thursday just two days after the team resigned center Patrik Berglund to a two-year contract.

"We're really excited about where he's at in his career," Armstrong said of Polak. "We have him locked up through what we believe is the prime of his career. It's an exciting time for our organization and an exciting time for Roman.

"When I look at our defensive corps now, we have control over ... either via contract or via restricted free agency three of our top four defensemen for the next five years. That's exciting to know that we have something we can continue to build around and continue to grow on."

Despite a season in which Polak missed a good chunk of games due to a lacerated wrist injury, the 6-foot-1, 227-pound defenseman is an asset the Blues simply couldn’t subject to offer sheets. Polak would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.

"With regards to Roman, he's defined himself on what type of player he can be, what he's going to do for the next five years," Armstrong said. "We ask him to do a very difficult job on a nightly basis, playing against the other team's top players and make life difficult for them. He's a prime time penalty killer.

"My belief is to reward those guys that have to do the real dirty work, when you have to expose yourself nightly to shot-blocking and playing that physical way. I was glad to see that we could put some security to Roman. Now he can go out here and do that knowing without anything on the back of his mind contractually he can go out and play that hard style game that we need to him to play to be successful."

Polak played in 55 games last season, recording 12 points on three goals and nine assists along with 33 penalty minutes. He's played in 227 career NHL games, all with the Blues, posting 49 points (eight goals, 41 assists) along with 143 penalty minutes.

"Roman has defined himself now," Armstrong said. "I use that word defined in definition for our younger players. I have a strong belief on what he's going to be. He's going to be a primary, shutdown defenseman. He's proven he can play in that role. He's playing in our top four. We know the minutes he's going to log. There's real definition in his game right now."

With the Blues' ownership still in limbo, there was rational discussion whether to offer any players long-term deals at the present time. But Armstrong made clear that Dave Checketts and SCP Worldwide signed off on the deal.

The Blues could have gone the shorter route and offer up a two-year deal, but then they would expose Polak after the second season and leave him in UFA territory.

"Getting Roman signed for two years was certainly an option, but then we were going to be in competition at that point with 29 other teams to secure him as an unrestricted free agent," Armstrong said. "We just felt as an organization there was no need to go down that road if we didn't have to knowing what was there with Roman, knowing how he has competed for the team and how he will compete moving forward."

There were reports that the team also had come to terms with forward Vladimir Sobotka, also a RFA. But Armstrong said negotiations are still ongoing with a number of RFA's on the team and no deal has been reached with Sobotka yet.

"I think Vladi is an excellent young player and really has all the qualities that we want in our organization from tenacity and competitiveness," Armstrong said. "I'm hoping that in the near future we'll be having another (announcement) where we're talking about his signing, but ... until there's something signed in the NHL, you don't have an agreement."

The Blues still have a number of RFA's to get under contract, which could affect what the team does or does not do at the upcoming draft in Minnesota.

"It doesn't really affect the draft," Armstrong insisted. "It does affect moving forward to free agency and in a small way, at the draft, because now we know as you're putting your team together for the 2011-12 season, I know what we're going to be paying Roman Polak, I know exactly what we're paying Patrik Berglund as I know what we're paying other players under contract.

"It does add more pieces to the overall puzzle of not only how next year's team is going to be constructed but how the payroll's going to be allotted. It does help in that fashion. Then you get into July and depending on what we want to do via the unrestricted free agency market, we do have more information of committed dollars."