:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67433959/usa_today_14512162.0.jpg)
According to Darren Dreger, the Blues and Alex Pietrangelo have reached an impasse in contract negotiations that may be insurmountable.
Sources say contract talks between the St Louis Blues and Blues captain, Alex Pietrangelo have broken off. The team has advised Pietrangelo to pursue unrestricted free agency.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) September 18, 2020
The Blues, despite trading Jake Allen to the Montreal Canadiens to clear cap space, still do not have the room to offer Pietrangelo a large raise without dealing another big-money player. It’s expected Pietrangelo will command much more than his current salary of $6.5 million a season on the open market.
It may be time for Blues fans to accept that the team may have a new captain next year unless Armstrong can find a way to move another large contract. Unfortunately, the team seems to be hamstrung.
If Pietrangelo does in fact walk, that’ll be the time for a post-mortem and reflection on his time as captain. It won’t be the end of the world (the Blues were fine without David Backes saddling their books as he aged and was injured), but it would still be difficult for the Blues to win the first captain to lead the team to a Stanley Cup.
UPDATE:
I just hung up with Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo. He believes he’s headed to the market, but he has not ruled out a deal with the Blues. @DarrenDreger reported that sources tell him that talks have broken off and the Blues have told Pietrangelo to pursue free agency. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 18, 2020