ST. LOUIS - Things are not off to a good start for Keith Tkachuk and the St. Louis Blues.

According to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday, Tkachuk was suspended by the Blues after failing his physical.

"He failed his physical and he's been suspended," Blues general manager Larry Pleau told the newspaper. "That's all I'll say."

Speculations have Tkachuk appearing for his physical overweight. In the Blues' 2003-04 media guide, the 33-year-old Massachusetts native is listed at 231 pounds.

"It is disappointing because we were looking for him to be our best player, game in and game out," St. Louis coach Mike Kitchen said. "Players have to come to camp in shape. He's been terrific following the program previously. The work stoppage has been hard on a lot of people."

With 30-plus goals in each of the previous four seasons, Tkachuk will be counted on to extend the streak in 2005-06. The left wing is one of the Blues' lone threats with Pavol Demitra and defensemen Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis no longer on the team.

The four-time All-Star and two-time Olympian, who also has played for the Winnipeg-Phoenix franchise, has 431 goals and 401 assists in 856 career games.