As everyone understood, Armstrong explained that a sign-and-trade between Shattenkirk and another club would have yielded the most for the Blues. He wouldn’t go into specifics but confirmed that the club had one in place in January — the Post-Dispatch reported recently that it was Tampa Bay — that dissolved when the defenseman couldn’t come to contract terms.

“We worked out a package that we felt we were very comfortable with and took that to Kevin and his representative,” Armstrong said. “They talked to a team, couldn’t find common ground, so that was null and void.”

The Blues were disappointed, but Armstrong said he understood.

“He’s earned the right,” Armstrong said. “There was no animosity or hard feelings. Kevin’s got to a point where on July 1 he can dictate where he wants to play, who he wants to play for and how much he wants to play for.”

The club turned its sights back to moving Shattenkirk as a “rental,” meaning it wouldn’t be getting as much back because any interested clubs would only have him for the remainder of the season.