Intrigue abounds in the NHL these days. Ilya Kovalchuk is doing his best LeBron James imitation, flirting with multiple teams while sending mixed signals to suitors.

Contenders await the outcome of his sweepstakes. Many potential deals are on hold. All heck could break loose once Kovalchuk selects his next team.

For the time being, the Blues are staying quiet. New GM Doug Armstrong brought back unrestricted free agent Brad Winchester despite his puzzling disappearance in 2009-2010.

No, you can’t teach size. Winchester has plenty of that. But for the bulk of his career, coaches have not inspired Winchester to use that size to consistent advantage.

So his retention elicited yawns in Blues Nation.

But fans should not despair. The summer is still young. Plenty of talent remains in the free agent marketplace and many trade opportunities will soon emerge.

According to NHLCaps.com, the Blues currently lead the NHL with nearly $24 million in salary cap space. The team still has to lock up some restricted free agents, of course, but Armstrong has enviable flexibility.

He isn’t looking to blow up his roster. He has made that very clear. The Blues hope to improve from within.

Armstrong would like to give his core players with the right sort of help – and fascinating opportunities will arise between now and the start of the regular season.

(The relentless HockeyBuzz.com prodded Blues fans by suggesting that Montreal and Florida are asking about RFA David Perron – and that the Blues could use their massive cap space to enter the Kovalchuk chase.)

The Blues let power-play specialist Sheldon Souray (and the $9 million left in contract) pass through waivers. Souray, like Blues captain Eric Brewer, has been plagued by injuries.

Unlike Brewer, though, Souray possesses a monstrous slap shot. He scored 23 goals two years ago for the Oilers. He wants out of Edmonton and the Oilers want him gone, so we’re still endorsing a salary-for-salary trade in this corner of cyberspace.

But the Blues’ next order of business could be bringing back Carlo Colaiacovo, who, by default, was the team’s No. 2 offensive defenseman last year.

Elsewhere in the NHL:

• The cap-strapped Flyers are looking to offload Simon Gagne, his salary and his extensive injury history. It would be interesting to see how he could exploit his speed and skill in the Western Conference.
• The Islanders made an “all-in” pitch for Kovalchuk, reportedly offering a deal in excess of $100 million. But Ilya already turned down that sort of money in Atlanta, preferring to play to a winner. The Islanders aren’t going anywhere until that franchise gets new ownership and management.
• If the Islanders whiff on Kovalchuk, perhaps that team will deal for Capitals winger Alexander Semin. He is a year removed from free agency and Washington can’t keep everybody, so . . .
• If the Kings pass Kovalchuk as now expected, LA could use its cap space to deal for Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier instead. He would be a nice No. 2 center to play behind Anze Kopitar and the power-play possibilities boggle the mind.
• The Devils are staying alive in the Kovalchuk bidding by offering him the opportunity to win. New Jersey would have to convince Ilya to take fewer years and less money, just as the Red Wings did to get a year out of Marian Hossa.
• The Predators got younger and faster up the middle by adding Matthew Lombardi to replace the departed Jason Arnott. The Blues could use another mid-level offensive player of that ilk.
• Former Blue Paul Kariya could make a happy landing in Pittsburgh. The Pens are looking to upgrade their offensive supporting cast and Kariya wants to take one more run at the Cup before retiring.