ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Saturday the club has acquired former first round draft choices Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk along with a conditional 2011 or 2012 second round draft choice from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional 2011 or 2012 first round draft choice.

“We’re very excited to acquire a young emerging power forward in Chris Stewart and a top young NHL defenseman in Kevin Shattenkirk,” said Armstrong. “These are two solid young players which will help us now and continue to grow and improve our team. I would like to thank Erik and Jay for their service to the St. Louis Blues and wish them nothing but the best of luck.”

Stewart, 23, has dressed in 36 games for the Avalanche this season, recording 30 points including 13 goals and 17 assists to go along with 38 penalty minutes.

The 6'2”, 228-pound forward has spent three seasons in the NHL, appearing in 166 games, registering 113 points (52 goals, 61 assists) and 165 penalty minutes. Last season, Stewart led Colorado with 28 goals and finished second on the team in scoring with 64 points in 77 games.

The Toronto, Ontario native was originally drafted by Colorado in the first round, 18th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Shattenkirk, 22, currently playing in his first National Hockey League (NHL) season, has appeared in 46 games this season with Colorado and ranks second among league rookie defenseman with 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists).

He compiled a nine-game point streak this season from Nov. 17-Dec. 4 (four goals, 10 assists), becoming just the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to register a point streak of nine-or-more games, joining Barry Beck, who had a pair of 10-game streaks with the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78.

The 5’11”, 193-pound defenseman was one of the 12 rookies chosen to participate in the 2011 NHL SuperSkills Competition during All-Star Weekend last month.

The Greenwich, Connecticut native was originally drafted by Colorado in the first round, 14th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.