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Blues and pending UFA Backes ‘haven’t been able to find that common ground’

St Louis Blues v Dallas Stars - Game Two

DALLAS, TX - MAY 01: David Backes #42 of the St. Louis Blues walks off the ice after scoring the game winning goal against Antti Niemi #31 of the Dallas Stars in overtime in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 1, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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As a pending unrestricted free agent, the prospect of David Backes re-signing with the St. Louis Blues doesn’t seem too promising as July 1 approaches.

At the age of 32, Backes has played his entire NHL career so far in St. Louis. As the Blues’ captain, he scored 21 goals and 45 points in 79 games during the regular season and then added seven goals and 14 points in 20 playoff games, as St. Louis made it to the Western Conference Final.

When speaking about Backes in recent weeks, Blues GM Doug Armstrong has said re-signing the veteran forward is a priority, but doesn’t want a deal that may hamstring the organization down the road, and in a league where speed is becoming such a prized quality.

Backes is at the end of a five-year, $22.5 million contract. In conversation with Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Armstrong reiterated the organization would like to bring Backes back, but again, the deal has to fit for the organization as well as the player.

Backes is one of five pending UFAs with the Blues. Troy Brouwer, who is 30 years old and coming off the best post-season of his NHL career with 13 points in 20 games, also headlines that list.