Frank Seravalli of TSN: TSNs top 30 NHL free agents.

Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 690 on the St. Louis Blues and pending UFA David Backes.

“I think it’s going to be a priority for them, no matter what happens from here on in, to re-sign him. That’s the sense I get. But I don’t think it’s an automatic, because I think what will be the key issue for David Backes — at the age of 34 and the hard miles he has put on himself because of the honest type of player that he is — I think term is a big thing. I don’t know if the Blues, or any other team out there, are comfortable going longer than three years.

“And if you’re David Backes, and you’ve got to think about yourself and your family, you want to cash in. This is it. This is the last time that you’re taking a swing at things, free agent-wise, and you want to get more than three years. You want to get comfort, and maybe some payback for the way you played the game in your career.”