Blues' Pietrangelo: Testing free agency may be 'best for both sides'

Following a report the St. Louis Blues cut off contract talks with Alex Pietrangelo on Friday, the pending unrestricted free agent acknowledged he'll likely be testing the open market this October.

"There was a discussion today, and I guess the best way to sum it up, we haven't really made much progress," Pietrangelo said Friday, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.

"We just think right now, with where things are at, that maybe it's best for both sides to see what's going on in free agency, what the team can explore, what I can explore and if there are better fits for each side."

The Blues are among many teams that have been significantly impacted by the flat $81.5-million salary cap in 2020-21. St. Louis has $5.15 million in projected cap space for next season and Pietrangelo is due for a big payday after making $6.5 million annually on his latest deal.

Pietrangelo, 30, admitted he's unhappy with the way contract talks have gone to this point, but said he hasn't yet ruled out re-signing with the team he's spent all 12 years of his NHL career with.

"We're a little disappointed that we're in this situation," he said. "We weren't able to hammer out the details what we wanted in a deal. There was some work that we tried to get done that we couldn't get done, so both sides agreed that maybe it's in the best interest.

"We're two weeks away. Not saying anything can't change, but as of right now, that's kind of our plan, and we'll see where things go."

Free agency is set to open Oct. 9, and Pietrangelo would easily be the most coveted blue-liner on the market.

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