The St. Louis Blues announced Friday they have released forward Nick Ritchie and defenceman Andy Welinski from their professional tryouts.
Ritchie split last season between the Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames and had 26 points (13 goals and 13 assists) in 74 games. He was traded to Calgary at the deadline on March 3 in a move that sent his brother, Brett Ritchie, to Arizona.
The 27-year-old from Orangeville, Ont., was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in 2014. He has recorded 186 points (84 goals and 102 assists) in 481 games over eight seasons with the Ducks, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Coyotes and Flames.
Welinski spent last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and posted 19 points (four goals and 15 assists) in 54 games.
The 30-year-old from Duluth, Minn., is also a former Ducks draft pick and was selected in the third round, 83rd overall, in 2011. He recorded one goal and five assists in 46 games over three seasons in Anaheim and last played in the NHL with the club during the 2020-21 campaign.
