The St. Louis Blues aren't going to trade David Backes before Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. But they aren't going to re-sign their captain to a contract extension, either.
Backes is playing out the final season of his contract, earning $4.75 million and carrying a salary cap hit of $4.5 million.
"There are no ongoing dialogues," general manager Doug Armstrong said, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.
Earlier in the week, Armstrong said trading Backes for future considerations - a draft pick or two - wasn't an option. It "would be an injustice to the players in that (dressing) room right now."
Backes has a full no-trade clause, and the contending Blues will figure out his future with the club after the season ends.
"We had really good conversations over the summer," Armstrong added. "The feeling was let's let the year play itself out. He's going to be a big part of what we're doing over the next little while."
Rutherford cites a source who said Backes turned down a three-year, $16.5-million extension, though it's unclear when that offer was made.
Backes, who'll turn 32 on May 1, has 15 goals and 18 assists in 63 games. He's spent his entire 10-year career with the Blues, scoring 50 or more points five times.
Rutherford also notes that Troy Brouwer, who also has an expiring contract, won't be re-signed before Monday, either. Brouwer's earning $3.75 million, while carrying a cap hit of $3.67 million.
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