I’m told the Blues have heavy interest in Chris Pronger and have him at the top of their wish-list. Some in the organization still can’t believe that the previous ownership felt it was necessary to unload Pronger in 2005, so that it could make the franchise more attractive to a potential buyer.

Sources say the Blues have been watching Pronger closely in recent weeks and have already checked into what sort of package it would take to land the big defenseman in a trade. The package, I’m told, included the names of David Perron, Roman Polak and Alex Pietrangelo. The Ducks are looking to add a young forward like Perron to their organization after dealing Andy McDonald to St. Louis and letting Dustin Penner go to Edmonton as a restricted free agent.

Now this doesn’t mean that Anaheim asked for Perron, Polak and Pietrangelo, or that the Blues would give up all three, but those are some of the names that have been mentioned. Either way, it sounds like an awful lot to give up.

The question now is, “Do the Ducks trade Pronger by the deadline?” They could, but a few sources have said, “Probably not.”

While Pronger’s value is selling high currently, Anaheim is in a playoff hunt itself, hanging onto the eighth spot with 67 points before Tuesday night’s games.

The Ducks trading Pronger is the equivalent of the Blues trading Keith Tkachuk, in that, it would signal giving up on their playoff hopes this season. Like the Blues, the Ducks are playing well at 3-2 on their current road trip. Since the Ducks have Pronger under contract for next season, they could keep him for the playoff stretch, and then trade him at the draft in late June.

Yes, a package involving Perron or Pietrangelo would be enticing to the Ducks, but it wouldn’t help them reach the playoffs this season.

So do the Blues want to part with one or more of their top prospects for Pronger? That’s the question from their end.

Do they give up on Perron, who’s only 20 years old? Pietrangelo, who still has another year of junior eligibility left? Only if they think they can be Stanley Cup contenders in the next three years, or however long Pronger wears the Blue Note.

Pronger’s contract expires after next season, but sources say the Blues believe he could re-sign here. He will turn 35 at the start of next season. The thinking is that Pronger has at least three more good years left in him, maybe four. He has 10 goals and 27 assists this season, while still averaging around 27 minutes a game.

There are some who have watched him play this year who don’t think he’s had a great season, but no one can argue that he’s played well lately. He would be a top-two defenseman on this roster and a definite asset on the power play when you consider that Erik Johnson will be back next season.

It would be a steep price to pay, but if the Blues believe they are that close to contending, then perhaps they make the move.

JR