St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has no interest in dealing captain David Backes ahead of the trade deadline.
Though the 31-year-old center's had an underwhelming season with just 15 goals and 33 points through 63 games, Armstrong hasn't toyed with the idea of asking Backes to waive his no-trade clause.
"If we were in 10th or 11th or 12th spot in the Western Conference I'd probably be going to him right now, 'Obviously you're an unrestricted free agent, do you want to go a contending team?'" Armstrong told Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"We are that contending team. We are that team that is in the top part of the NHL. Trading David Backes for some form of a draft pick, I think, would be an injustice to the players in that room right now."
With Backes not appearing to be among St. Louis' trade bait, Armstrong will have to find other means to obtain an emergency backup between the pipes.
Brian Elliott is currently on the long-term injured reserve, so the Blues could be looking to add some insurance in goal. As Armstrong explains, however, such a deal would come with cap stipulations.
"It has to be a player that can go back to the minors when (Elliott) comes back or else we're over the cap," he said.
Whether or not Armstrong can swing a deal over the next three days, he remains confident in his club as currently constructed.
"I believe in those players in that room," the GM said. "If I can find a way to support them, I'm certainly going to try and do that. But my belief is that group in there, I really truly believe this is the year that for us to have success, our best players, they're not looking for assistance from outside. They know the responsibilities lie on their shoulders. I think to a man they are ready for that challenge."
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