By Ray Slover

updated 2:29 p.m. ET Aug. 17, 2008

Bring back Brendan Shanahan? Folks, the St. Louis Blues are doing one of two things: trying to improve their team or trying to sell tickets.

Maybe it's both. There is definitely a need for a veteran leader for the Blues, who got much younger this offseason. There's an even bigger need for power-play scoring. The Blues need to land a big-name player to energize their ticket sales. And there's no bigger thirty-something name in St. Louis hockey circles than Shanahan.

Pal Jeremy Rutherford reports the Blues have made known their interest in Shanahan, an unrestricted free agent whose most likely destination remains the New York Rangers.

It's a win-win situation for the Blues. They look good by going after a fan favorite. If not, they can say they tried.

Shanahan was one man away from being captain when he was with the Blues between 1991 and 1995. That man was Mike Keenan. Shanahan had some standout seasons with the Blues, scoring 50-plus goals twice. But Keenan had no use for him.

When the Blues peddled Shanahan after the 1994-95 season, Keenan was under orders to trade one of three players -- Brett Hull, Al MacInnis or Shanahan. Trading Hull would have been franchise suicide. MacInnis was the most critical need of the three because he was the franchise defenseman. So, it was Shanahan who Keenan traded to the Hartford Whalers for Chris Pronger in a salary dump.

What's keeping Shanahan on the market now? The Rangers remain in a flirtatious relationship with Mats Sundin. Who isn't? Does Shanahan want to be a fall-back decision if the Rangers don't sign Sundin? Does he have a place with the Rangers if they do sign Sundin? Yes -- for the right price.

Well, Shanahan is still on the market, still wants to play for the Rangers and is willing to accept less than first-line salary and ice time. If he really wanted to play elsewhere, there would be no limit to the number of teams interested in him. He wants to play for the Rangers.

Shanahan has reasons to return to St. Louis. He knows Blues winger Paul Kariya from their time together on Canadian national teams. There's a friendship there, a deep one. He knows Blues president John Davidson from their time together in New York. Shanahan holds a fancy for St. Louis. And with Kariya he would be a top-line player flanking Andy McDonald.

Here's a likely scenario if the Blues to sign Shanahan: The Blues get into the mix to acquire Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers. They could build a package that would include Lee Stempniak, who is known to be expendable. They've been trying to peddle Stempniak since the draft. Obviously, it would take more, a lot more, to get Bouwmeester. But the Blues need another top-two defenseman with offensive upside. They have youngsters who will fill that role. They just don't have them NHL-ready yet.

By the way, there are also rumors the Blues would be interested in a deal to get Patrick O'Sullivan from the Los Angeles Kings. If the price is defenseman Jay McKee, the Blues should do that in a heartbeat.

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Here is the downside: Would Shanahan create a problem in the Blues' locker room? Coach Andy Murray is dead set on having defenseman Eric Brewer as his captain. Shanahan could move into the room in a way similar to Bill Guerin, who the Blues signed on the cheap a couple years back. The Blues need another veteran presence, having lost Ryan Johnson and Jamal Mayers from their forward corps this offseason. But Shanahan could polarize the room, whether he wants to or not.

Other rumors floating around say Shanahan would stay on the East Coast, with a team close to New York. Would the Philadelphia Flyers be able to carve out salary cap room for him? Would Lou Lamoriello want him with the New Jersey Devils? Would he want to play for the New York Islanders?

Bottom line: If Shanahan wants to come back to St. Louis, the Blues will accommodate him. But don't buy that Shanahan Blues sweater until you hear the deal is done. The Rangers replicas look like they'll continue to be the choice.

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