The Blues have begun retooling in earnest. The franchise added much-needed goaltending help, spending a fourth-round pick to land Predators veteran Chris Mason.

This team had targeted potential free agent Dan Ellis, but Nashville re-signed him. So the Blues were willing to take Mason and the remaining two years and $6 million on his contract.

Mason will replace hapless Hannu Toivonen – who returned him to Scandanavia – as Manny Legace’s back-up next season. John Davidson made a solid move to meet his top off-season priority. The Blues just had to get someone, since former top pick Marek Schwarz has been a bust and Our Town’s Ben Bishop will need time to develop at Peoria.

Of course, this move did come with a price. To clear the needed budget room (and create a spot for a younger forward next season), the Blues earlier shipped long-timer Jamal Mayers to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third-round pick.

Mayers is a character guy who has done great things in this community. But, as Bryce Salvador saw last season, that doesn’t guarantee a player the opportunity to finish his career in St. Louis.

This team tanked last year. So he moves on and the Blues move on.

This team’s transition toward youth is gathering steam. Veteran defenseman Jay McKee could be the next to go. Dan Hinote has also been mentioned in trade rumors, although Mayers’ exit may reduce some of Davidson’s interest in shopping him.

This will be an interesting day for Blues fan, to say the least. The Blues will continue to get offers for the fourth overall pick, since the Maple Leafs (among other teams) covet Russian winger Nikita Filatov.