GM indicates he won't re-sign very valuable veteran forward.

The unrestricted free agent market will have one very valuable veteran forward available this summer.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday that the reality of signing veteran forward David Backes to a new deal may not be in the cards for his club.

"I'd love to keep him here. But it has to work out for David and his family and work out in our math equation."

All season long there were rumors Backes would be traded, and it appears extremely unlikely that the Blues will consider re-signing him at a competitive rate in the free agent market, especially with so many players on the roster in need of new commitments.

Backes, it goes without saying, will be an extremely valuable commodity to any contending team, and is likely to get signed in very short order.

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