When the NHL free-agency period begins at 11 St. Louis time, the Blues will be looking to sign a backup goaltender? There are plenty available in the market, and sources say the Blues have not zereod in on one particular netminder. Keep in mind that several teams will be looking for backups in free agency, so the Blues are not alone in their search.

Let’s take a look at the most attractive UNRESTRICTED free-agent goalies:

Nikolai Khabibulin

Age: 36

2008-09 salary: $6,750,000

Comment: Khabibulin showed last season that he still has something left, so much so that the Blackhawks, who once couldn’t wait to rid themselves of his contract, may entertain the idea of bringing him back. Could Cristobal Huet be on the move? If Khabibulin leaves Chicago, don’t expect him to be headed to St. Louis. Khabibulin could get a starting job, and the Blues aren’t looking to spend as much as it would cost them for Khabibulin.

Manny Fernandez

Age: 34

2008-09 salary: $4,750,000

Comment: Fernandez will be leaving Boston, where Tim Thomas won a Vezina Trophy last season. There were rumblings at the draft that Fernandez might retire. His record (16-8-3) was good last year, but it helped playing with the B’s. His 2.59 goals-against average and .910 save-percentage weren’t horrible, but not great considering his salary. Fernandez still will command decent dollars and he’ll want to play more games than he did last year, which doesn’t make him a good fit in St. Louis.

Dwayne Roloson

Age: 39

2008-09 salary: $3,000,000

Comment: Could the former Blue be headed back to St. Louis? Roloson was a bright spot in Edmonton last season, playing perhaps better than most people figured late in his career. He won’t get a huge contract, but Roloson could find a situation where he competes for the starting job. The Blues want a veteran backup, and would be fortunate to land Roloson for that role, but he’s probably got better options.

Mathieu Garon

Age: 31

2008-09 salary: $1,000,000

Comment: Garon was traded to Pittsburgh in January, but only played four games down the stretch behind starter Marc-Andre Fleury. Garon has played 204 NHL games and has a record of 94-83-10. He has a career 2.84 goals-against average and a .905 save-percentage. Pittsburgh was Garon’s third team since the lockout, so he’s moved around a bunch. He’s not a bad option, and the price tag could be right for the Blues.

Jason Labarbera

Age: 29

2008-09 salary: $850,000

Comment: Labarbera went to Vancouver in December for a seventh-round draft pick. He was 3-2-2 while backup up Roberto Luongo. He’s played in half the NHL games that a guy like Garon has posted and he doesn’t boast a .500 record. But he’s a decent backup, a character guy in the dressing room and would definitely be in the Blues’ price range.

Scott Clemmensen

Age: 31

2008-09 salary: $500,000

Comment: Clemmensen had an unbelievable season, replacing the injured Martin Brodeur. He went 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA and a .917 save-percentage. Some think it could have been enough to land him a more regular job in the NHL, with a salary bump. But others think Clemmensen was aided by playing on a good team with a good defense. Those folks think he is nothing more than a career backup. Clemmensen could look at St. Louis as an attractive option, thinking he’d be the backup but also has a chance to unseat Chris Mason, who’s contract is expired after the season.

Ty Conklin

Age: 33

2008-09 salary: $750,000

Comment: Conklin has been mentioned by many in St. Louis as a viable candidate. He was 25-11-2 in Detroit. Perhaps you or I could have posted that record in Detroit, but the experience was valuable. He had a 2.51 GAA and a .909 save-percentage. Conklin may have taken less to go to Detroit last season, but teams are probably figuring to get him for less than $1,000,000 in free agency.

Free agency begins: Now!!

JR