Things were pretty quiet around the Scottrade Center up until around 1:00 Wednesday afternoon, the final hour before the trade deadline would expire.
Blues forward Keith Tkachuk had already left the building when he received a phone call from the Blues. That call prompted the power forward to stop what he was doing and return to the Scottrade Center.
The fact that Tkachuk returned to the Blues facility was the first signal that a deal was in the works. The team re-confirmed with Tkachuk that he would in fact approve a trade to a different team if an agreement was reached.
It turns out the Blues were having discussions with the Boston Bruins about trading Tkachuk.
Due to the fact Tkachuk has a no-movement clause tells you the team wanted his ok before negotiating.
It would make no sense for the Blues to work out a trade before going to the player and asking him to waive his no-movement after the fact. If the player were to say no then the Blues would have wasted their time negotiating a trade in the first place.
So obviously Tkachuk was aware the Blues were trying to make a deal to trade him, but they weren’t going to make a deal just to make a deal.
Once Tkachuk was asked to sign his no trade papers he obviously knew the club was attempting to work out a trade and it’s safe to say he fully expected to be moved.
Multiple sources tell me Tkachuk gave those around him every indication he was going to be traded. Prior to an official announcement from the Blues Tkachuk spent time talking with teammates, staffers, and even had a lengthy conversation with Head Coach Andy Murray in the Scottrade Center hallway.
You can also say many were surprised to learn the deal never came to fruition. After already saying goodbye to several teammates and signing his no-trade papers the Blues informed Tkachuk the deal was off.
I’m told Tkachuk was not upset that the Blues were unable to reach an agreement but you can say he was mildly disappointed. If he didn’t want to go he wouldn’t have signed the paperwork.
I can’t fault the Blues for hanging on to their team leader.
I have said all along if they were going to trade Tkachuk it would need to be in exchange for a player that makes the team better tomorrow, next season, and a few years down the line.
Obviously that deal didn’t surface.
At the end of the day (literally) the Blues weren’t satisfied with the offer they would have received in return from Boston. Even a first round pick offered for Tkachuk would not have satisfied the Blues.
This is different than years past when Larry Pleau made deadline deals for Billy Guerin and Tkachuk. Those years the Blues were not in the playoff hunt like they are now. From the beginning the Blues made it clear what they were asking for. They wanted a combination of a player and/or pick, and the player had to be somebody that would help the Blues immediately.
Teams knew bettter than to offer a mid round pick because Pleau made it clear right off the bat what it would take to land Tkachuk.
In the end the Blues didn’t deem Boston's offer acceptable and therefore never pulled the trigger.
I’m also told the talks were very serious and the two sides weren’t that far from executing a trade. We will never know if a deal could have eventually been worked out if both teams weren’t working against the 2:00 deadline.
The bottom line is Tkachuk has more value to the St. Louis Blues as they push for a final playoff push than even a first round pick.
By not accepting the offer on the table, Blues management is hoping to send a message into the dressing room that they want to win and in turn are rewarding the team for overcoming all types of adversity and putting themselves in position to compete for a spot in the playoffs.
The Blues have heard Tkachuk say numerous times about how he wants to make the playoffs with the St. Louis Blues.
Now they want to see it from him on the ice.
If Tkachuk has a strong showing in the final 19 games and leads this team into the playoffs he will put pressure on Blues management to consider bringing him back next season.
This wasn’t the only deal the Blues were trying to accomplish on Wednesday. The club made a strong push to acquire a defenseman but was unsuccessful in finding a team to accept the proposals the Blues were offering.
Blues Clues!
The Blues had no interest in putting goaltender Manny Legace through re-entry waivers before the Wednesday trade deadline.
Captain Eric Brewer is still being bothered by a nerve issue in his back and his frustration is growing by the day. There are no immediate plans for Brewer to continue skating.
Fans can expect to see Ben Bishop get some game action in the coming weeks as he has been re-called from Peoria.
There were no trade discussions involving Dan Hinote who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
I've been told by some Blues players that Paul Kariya is still holding out hope that he can return this season. The Blues would need to make the playoffs for this to even be considered.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
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St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • 
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