ST. LOUIS -- The Blue Jackets face seven games and one potentially awkward conversation between today and Feb. 15, when the NHL starts a two-week break for the Olympics.

The first of those seven games is tonight when the Blue Jackets play the St. Louis Blues in the Scottrade Center.

The conversation will be with left winger Fredrik Modin.

Modin had a no-trade clause written into the three-year contract extension he signed with the Blue Jackets near the end of the 2006-07 season.

"Right now, obviously, my focus is on the hockey here in Columbus," Modin said. "And in all honesty, I haven't even thought about it. That's something that if and when it comes up, I'll think about it."

The Blue Jackets, who entered play last night nine points out of eighth place in the Western Conference, are almost certain to be sellers at the trade deadline. They have three players who can become unrestricted free agents July 1 and might draw interest from clubs needing a short-term boost: Modin, left winger Raffi Torres and defenseman Milan Jurcina.

But only Modin has a no-trade clause.

"I can't say what I'd do because we're not there yet," Modin said. "Until Scott brings it up to me I just don't know."

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said that a conversation with Modin would likely have to take place before the Olympics, where Modin will play for Sweden. NHL general managers are allowed to talk trades during the Olympic roster freeze, then they will have only three days to complete them between the end of the freeze and the trade deadline of March 3.

It's unclear whether the Blue Jackets would ask Modin to provide them a list of teams he would be willing to join.

Modin, 35, has had a slew of injuries the past three seasons, but he could draw interest from teams seeking a third- or fourth-line winger with playoff experience. He won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004.

Weathering the storm

The Blue Jackets were blitzed for three first-period goals and lost 4-1 to the Blues on Jan. 12, the last time they visited St. Louis.

The Blues seem like a different team at home, where they've beaten the Blue Jackets eight straight times.

"The first 10 minutes are the key," Hitchcock said. "You have to get up to their emotional level when you play there, and we haven't been able to do that."

Slap shots

Winger Derek Dorsett is expected back in the lineup after missing a game Thursday because of a forearm/wrist injury. Left winger Kristian Huselius and defenseman Anton Stralman will be out because of the flu. Right winger Jake Voracek hasn't scored a goal since Dec. 14, a span of 22 games.

aportzline @dispatch.com