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It’s ‘back to the drawing board’ for Blues and Pietrangelo

St. Louis Blues v Los Angeles Kings

Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo reacts after scoring in the final minute of the third period to send the game to overtime during Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee)

AP

The St. Louis Blues announced this morning that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo would not be reporting to training camp after contract talks between club and player broke off.

Shortly after that announcement, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong met with reporters to explain the situation further.

“We’ve worked in earnest with his representative trying to get him into training camp,” Armstrong said, per the Post-Dispatch. “Last night, we gave it a last-ditch kick at the can around 8 or 9 o’clock at night. It didn’t hold. So from this point forward, he’s not in camp and we treat him like an injured player.

“Sidney Crosby missed a lot of time with concussions (and) the Penguins went on. That’s our job responsibility. If he misses a week, a month, a year, we’re not really sure … but he’s not here now and we have to move forward.”

Writes the Post-Dispatch:

Pietrangelo, 23, is believed to be seeking an extension that would pay him $7 million per season on a long-term deal. The Blues, who have a shade over $7 million in salary-cap space for the 2013-14 season, aren’t willing to pay more than $6 million annually.

Would Pietrangelo consider a bridge deal, like the one Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban signed last summer before going on to win the Norris Trophy?

“We were more focused on a lengthier term recently,” Armstrong said. “But now both sides need to go back to drawing board and find out how do we get him in here.”