The first part of Bob Murray’s plan went without a hitch Tuesday when the St. Louis Blues parted company with Brett Hull.
But Wednesday looms as perhaps one of the biggest days for the Blackhawks in the last 30 years. That’s when the dominoes–perhaps also Doug Gilmour and a defenseman–can begin to fall into place.
Because the Blues told Hull, a 33-year-old unrestricted free agent, they wouldn’t re-sign him, the Hawks’ general manager can leap into action. The free-agent market opened at 11 p.m. Tuesday and Murray is poised to make Hull an offer he can’t refuse.
For the past 10 months, Hull had said St. Louis was his top choice as the place he wanted to finish his Hall of Fame career, but he always considered Chicago his second choice. Now it’s just a matter of whether the Hawks’ offer, likely to be between $18 million and $21 million over three seasons, can prevent Hull from entertaining possibly bigger contracts from Washington, the New York Rangers, Toronto and Los Angeles.
Whoever gets Hull will have a no-trade clause prepared. The Golden Brett, whose father Bobby scored 604 goals as a Hawk, would have re-signed with St. Louis in March at $15 million over three years if the Blues had given him the no-trade clause he demanded.
“I wanted to know that I’d finish my career in St. Louis,” Hull said. “It never had anything to do with money.”
Now that he’s on the open market, money may or may not be a factor.
“I’m simply going to see who wants me and then try to find the best fit for my family and me, on and off the ice,” Hull said. “There’s a lot of hockey left in these hands and legs, and I can’t wait for the season to begin.”
Hull had a career-low 27 goals this season, giving him 554 for his career. Early Tuesday, Blues GM Larry Pleau told the franchise’s career leader in goals (527), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (70) and power-play goals (195) that the club had decided to not pursue him.
“Brett was first class,” Pleau said. “Everyone in our hockey organization unanimously believes a change will be good for the Blues, as well as Brett.”
Hull is ambivalent.
“I have mixed feelings about leaving St. Louis,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal city and it has been home for 10 years.
“I’m thinking I’ll play about four more years,” added Hull, who turns 34 Aug. 9. “I’d like to be around to get 700 goals, maybe 800.”
If Murray can reel in Hull, will other free agents flock to Chicago? Gilmour also was believed to be high on the Hawks’ wish list, but word out of Tampa Bay is that the Lightning is preparing to offer the 35-year-old center a three-year, $18 million deal.
That could price the Hawks out of the game, but Gilmour has said he would be interested in Chicago if Hull were there. Maybe he would accept a bit less money from the Hawks to make Murray’s game plan perfect.
It’s believed Murray also would like to add a defenseman to the mix, possibly Phoenix’s Murray Baron, Nashville’s Uwe Krupp or St. Louis’ Steve Duchesne.
