In 2005, the Blues passed over St. Louisan Paul Stastny in the NHL draft, selecting defenseman Scott Jackson No. 37 overall, seven spots before the Colorado Avalanche selected Stastny in the second round.

It’s a miscalculation that Blues’ fans have lamented for many years. Stastny has gone on to post 458 points in 538 NHL games, while Jackson played only one NHL game in his career, with Tampa Bay.

Nine years later, the Blues are looking to put Stastny in a St. Louis sweater. On the first day of the NHL’s “courting” period for unrestricted free agents Wednesday, the club contacted Stastny’s agent, Matt Keator, and expressed interest in the center, according to a league source.

Per NHL rules, teams are permitted to discuss the parameters of a deal, but are not allowed to come to terms or announce an agreement until free agency begins on Tuesday. As expected, neither Blues general manager Doug Armstrong nor Keator would comment on their discussions.

Before Blues fans get excited about the possibility of signing Stastny, whose father Peter and older brother Yan played here, know that Keator has said his player’s preference is to return to Colorado.