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Blues GM not concerned about Schwartz's looming arbitration case

Rocky W. Widner/NHL / Getty Images Sport / Getty

For the St. Louis Blues and Jaden Schwartz, the clock is ticking.

The two sides have one week to figure out a contract or end up in arbitration. But even as a third-party opinion looms, general manager Doug Armstrong remains unfazed.

"There’s not a lot of concern," Armstrong said, according to Chris Pinkert of Blues.NHL.com. "Schwartz is a restricted free agent for three more years, we know he’s going to be a Blue for three more years. If we could have gotten (his contract) done on a long-term deal before free agency started, I would know exactly what we could have spent (in free agency), but that hasn’t happened."

Armstrong headed into the offseason stating that getting Schwartz locked up would be his priority. Of course that has yet to be done, but even so, he feels Schwartz's value to the team is as high as anyone's.

"I think he fits right in with (Vladimir) Tarasenko, with (Robby) Fabbri, with (Colton) Parayko, with Alex Pietrangelo, and Jake Allen," Armstrong said. "These are guys you’ve drafted and developed so you would like to keep them here."

Schwartz is coming off a two-year contract that paid him an annual average of $2.35 million. During that time he has combined for 36 goals and 85 points in 108 games, while also contributing 17 points in 26 playoff games.

However things play out between Schwartz and the team, fans should rest assured that Armstrong is confident in one thing:

"I know (he’ll be) under contract," said Armstrong. "I know this isn’t going to go into September."

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