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Blues unlikely to re-sign Ott, Morrow before July 1

Chicago Blackhawks v St. Louis Blues - Game Two

Steve Ott

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Forwards Brenden Morrow and Steve Ott provided the St. Louis Blues with veteran leaders and grit to help round out their lineup, but their brief tenure with the team might be over.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong wanted to keep Ott, but the talks with his camp have “gone quiet” while Morrow’s agent, Brad Devin said there’s “no news to report” regarding his client, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

After locking up most of the team’s biggest unrestricted free agents well in advance, Armstrong wants to keep his options open ahead of the draft so that he has the financial flexibility necessary to trade for a second-line center if the opportunity arises. Armstrong still hasn’t ruled out re-signing Ott and is open to bringing back Morrow even if he tests the free agent waters first, but in both cases, they would have to be willing to sign within the Blues’ guidelines.

“We want to do fair contracts, but we don’t want to be anybody’s retirement package,” Armstrong said.

The Blues have nearly $22 million in cap space left, but they have to re-sign restricted free agents Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Jaden Schwartz, in addition to ideally acquiring the second-line center. On top of that, the Blues don’t anticipate spending to the ceiling in 2014-15.

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