Yesteryear Blues keep soldiering on across the NHL.

Old friend Craig Conroy recently got promoted to a top-line pairing with Jarome Iginla in Calgary. For the time being, Olli Jokinen was bumped to the second line.

“Let’s not make too much about Connie and Iggy — we’ve changed up a lot of things here today, over the last couple of days,” Brent Sutter told the Calgary Sun. “You guys (the media) see one guy all the time. I’m not like that. I’m about everybody. It’s where we can get the most out of every individual.

“We haven’t had, obviously, players play at the level we wanted them to play at. I made a decision that we’re gonna change it a little bit.”

Some former Blues will apparently play forever. Conroy, Rod Brind’Amour, Michal Handzus, Doug Weight, Bill Guerin . . . this list of durable alumni is substantial.

Conroy turned 38 last month. He just played his 935th NHL game, Where does the time go?

TOUGH BREAK FOR STEEN

Blues forward Alex Steen was flying Thursday night in Phoenix. He was a key piece of this team’s four-line chemistry, given his ability to play all the forward spot and fill both offensive and defensive roles.

His presence gave coach Andy Murray the ability to move his forward parts around. So if he misses extensive time, that will cut into Murray’s flexibility.

in the near term, Steen’s injury guarantees Cam Janssen a chance to play against the rugged Ducks. Also, this development could whisk Derek Armstrong back to the NHL.

Murray really likes Armstrong’s leadership ability — and the old-timer had an excellent camp and preseason.

DYING IN THE DESERT

With an announced crowd of less than 7,000 on hand to watch the Coyotes beat the Blues, the NHL’s Glendale franchise is facing a bleak business year.

The team is mired in bankruptcy proceedings. It’s future in the Valley of the Sun is iffy at best, since a worthy local buyer has not emerged.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has done his blocked the franchise’s move to Hamilton, but at some point the creditors will want some money.

For the time being, the team is staying put. Surviving Coyotes fans will benefit from steep ticket price discounts — and even some freebies – as the club tries to fill some seats on game day.

AROUND THE RINKS: The Blues have lost another prospect to Europe. Rather than toil for Alaska in the ECHL, Alex Hellstrom will head to Sweden to play for Lulea. He played in 75 games the previous two seasons for Peoria and nine games for Alaska this season before returning to his homeland. He was way, way, WAY down the organizational depth chart . . . Tough news for former Blues defensive prospect Mike Van Ryn. He will miss the rest of the season because of major knee surgery. That is just another bit of bad news for the reeling Maple Leafs . . . HockeyBuzz.com suggests Boston might be willing to move pending UFA Marc Savard, but how could the Bruins do that after unloading speedy Phil Kessel? That team has big aspirations for this season and its offensive depth has already taken a large hit . . . Count the Predators among the teams with many early-season issues to resolve, like their putrid power play . . . With Jonas Hiller capable of supplanting Jean-Sebastien Giguere in goal for Anaheim, the Ducks are waiting for a team with significant cap room to develop an acute goaltending need. Toronto GM Brian Burke is a big Giguere fan, but he has cast his fate with top prospect Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson . . . As we’ve noted earlier, the talented Blackhawks cannot expect to keep all their high-end players, due to their long-term cap concerns.