The elusive sign-and-trade deal in the NHL nearly came to pass.

The St. Louis Blues had reportedly agreed to the framework on a seven-year, $42-million sign-and-trade agreement with defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk six weeks ago, but the prized puck mover nixed the deal, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.

Rutherford suggests that the Tampa Bay Lightning was the team involved in the sign-and-trade negotiation, and the return assets included in the proposed deal remain unknown.

He also notes that since the deal fell through, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has shifted his focus to moving Shattenkirk to a buyer whose interest doesn't hinge on the defenseman signing long term.