Pronger, Blues Cut Off Talks

NHL most valuable player Chris Pronger and the St. Louis Blues cut off negotiations on a new contract Monday, although the team made it clear it wouldn’t let him get away. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s going to be a Blue for a long time,” General Manager Larry Pleau said.

Pronger, also named the league’s best defenseman last season, is in the final year of a six-year contract and intends to become a Group II free agent in July. He’s believed to be seeking a $10 million deal.

*

Boston Bruin goalie John Grahame broke an ankle when he tripped while stepping off a curb. The team said he will have surgery this week, when swelling around the injury subsides. . . . The Nashville Predators signed left wing Jeremy Stevenson and acquired defenseman Alexei Vasiliev from the New York Rangers for a conditional draft pick.