from Jeremy P. Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

The play of what Armstrong labels the “younger core” of Blues, including Jaden Schwartz and Kevin Shattenkirk, has generated interest around the NHL. The club has also fielded proposals for prospects such as Petteri Lindbohm and Robby Fabbri.

The Blues have been predictably less inclined to deal from that potential and perhaps are more open to moving tried and tested parts. But in an age in which the salary cap and no-trade clauses can dictate deals more than two teams being willing to dance, finalizing such an exchange can be problematic.

Six Blues have some form of a no-trade clause in their contract: Backes, Berglund, Paul Stastny, Alexander Steen, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester. Berglund’s partial no-trade kicks in July 1 and Pietrangelo’s starts in two years when he turns 27.

But it’s just not the leverage of some of the Blues that could hold up a trade. Players on the other end can exercise their rights, too, nixing the club’s plans.

“You look at the number of no-trades around the league ... I think when they first came out, they were given out a little more liberally than they are now,” Armstrong said. “It’s a real part of our game.”

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