When Cam Janssen was traded to the Blues in February 2008, joining fellow enforcer D.J. King, some fans had visions of decades past with Kelly Chase and Tony Twist on the ice together.
Those fans weren't alone.
"We're both the same style player, so I'm sure (like with) Chase and Twist . . . it's going to be the same thing," King said the day Janssen was acquired.
In two-plus seasons, however, Janssen and King suited up on the same night only 12 times; 10 came at the end of the 2007-08 season.
The primary reason for their rare ice time together was two long-term injuries to King — a shoulder injury that limited him to one game in 2008-09 and a broken hand that kept him out 39 games in 2009-10. But even when King was healthy, the club seemed reluctant to play the two enforcers together.
Now there's a strong likelihood that the Blues will move forward with only one. The club announced Wednesday that it had sent qualifying offers to 11 players, including Janssen and King. The qualifiers are a mere formality, allowing the Blues to retain the rights of their restricted free agents, but it could be a precursor to the club dangling the two as trade-bait heading into this weekend's NHL draft.
The trade market for an enforcer could be tough terrain, however, as Dallas' Krys Barch, Minnesota's Derek Boogaard, and the New York Rangers' Jody Shelley are among the enforcers who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Asked if he thought the Blues were only going to re-sign one, Janssen said recently: "Yeah, I think there's going to be a decision. You could just tell last year that we didn't have a chance to play together."
Referring to the either-or situation, King added: "It's expected. Me and Cam, we talk all the time and it's like, we know . . ."
Blues President John Davidson said the club was in a "wait-and-see mode" regarding the future of Janssen and King.
"Whether or not we keep both, I can't go into that," Davidson said. "If we keep both, and one doesn't dress, he has to be a good teammate. If we decide not to keep both, then we'll have to make a tough decision."
Janssen, 26, and King, who will turn 26 on Sunday, both sound in favor of the Blues keeping just one.
"You don't want to go into a season not knowing if you're going to be in one game, out one game . . ." Janssen said. "There's just no need swapping."
Said King: "If it's going to be tough for both of us to play at the same time, we want the best for both. We'd both love to be here, that's for sure, but we also both want to be playing hockey."
Both players, though, know their role.
Janssen was involved in 19 fights in 43 games last season, while King had five fights in a dozen games. King (6-foot-3, 228 pounds) is the heavyweight, but Janssen (5-11, 218 pounds) takes exception to the notion that he can't handle all takers.
"Look up my fights on YouTube and tell me when I lose," Janssen said. "Whoever said that, tell them they can call me up and we can have a little discussion."
King, meanwhile, must prove that he can stay healthy after missing 117 games the past two seasons.
"We have no fears about his health," Davidson said. "Those two injuries were things that just happen."
In another interesting twist, the qualifying offers made to Janssen and King were "two-way" offers. If signed, the team could opt to send them to the American Hockey League and pay them a minor-league salary. "That's just business," Davidson said.
Neither Janssen nor King is expected to sign the qualifier; instead, they'll wait until the Blues begin contract negotiations. Both players have arbitration rights.
"This is my hometown, my house is here, I love this organization," Janssen said. "I don't want to leave here by any means, but I know it's a business. Whatever happens, happens."
Other restricted free agents who received qualifying offers from the Blues were Jaroslav Halak, Erik Johnson, Alex Steen, David Perron, Tyson Strachan, Jonas Junland, Ryan Reaves, Nicholas Drazenovic and T.J. Hensick.
