Report: Pietrangelo calls out Blues for “disappointing” negotiations

The Blues captain with some strong words for GM Doug Armstrong.

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Published 3 years ago
Report: Pietrangelo calls out Blues for “disappointing” negotiations
Zuma Press

Things aren't looking good for Alex Pietrangelo's future in the Gateway city.

The St. Louis Blues' captain and pending free agent is "disappointed" with how negotiations have gone between his agent and Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

"It's been a little disappointing that we haven't been able to get a deal done, obviously," Pietrangelo said to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Atheletic. "But this is the situation that we're in, we're over three weeks away from Oct. 9 (the beginning of free agency). ... There hasn't been much in terms of progress."

The Blues have just over $5 million in cap space to sign both Pietrangelo and restricted free agent Vince Dunn, meaning that they'll likely have to make a trade to free up salary if they're serious about bringing both players back. The 30 year old Pietrangelo is likely looking at a deal that will pay him $7+ million annually. What's truly perplexing though is the contract that Armstrong and the Blues handed to Justin Faulk just prior to this past season. Seven years at $6.5 million? Seems pretty rich, doubly so now that the Blues can't afford to keep Pietrangelo and Dunn. Because of this blunder, the Blues may lose one of the greatest players to ever play for for them and the first player in franchise history to hoist the Stanley Cup.

It's even worse when you consider that Pietrangelo has no interest in leaving and would love nothing more than to retire as a member of the Blues.

"Yeah, I mean, there's players who have been in one spot their whole career but they change cities," Pietrangelo said. "I've been in the business a long time. I've been around. I've seen a lot of different things. I think you have to be willing to accept the fact that there may be a change one day. Whether it happens or not, it certainly changes your mindset and makes things a little easier if you ever get to that point."

How heartbreaking is that? The guy is putting it all out there, but when it comes right down to it, his GM just isn't willing to do the necessary work to make things happen.

For the full article from LeBrun, click below: