A source confirmed today that longtime NHL defenseman Darryl Sydor has been invited to training camp on a professional tryout.

Sydor, 37, played the ‘08-09 season with Dallas and had two goals and 11 assists in 65 games. He has 98 goals and 499 points in 1,244 NHL games.

The word out of Dallas is that the Stars were looking for a more physical defenseman, following the retirement of Mattias Norstrom after the 2007-08 season. The Stars really missed Norstrom last year, and feel that Karlis Skrastins is a more physical player than Sydor, so they’ve opted to go in that direction.

Sydor was seen in Dallas as a guy who can still play in the NHL, a great leader and a strong veteran presence. He’s played in five Stanley Cup finals, winning two championships (with Dallas in 1999 and Tampa Bay in 2004).

Once again, there appears to be a connection here with Blues director of pro personnel Doug Armstrong, who was instrumental in bringing former Dallas player B.J. Crombeen to St. Louis and also luring Ed Belfour to the Blues as a goalie consultant.

Sydor was rumored to be headed to Vancouver on a tryout basis, but instead he’s opted for the Blues.

With the status of defenseman Eric Brewer in limbo, Sydor will battle for a spot on the blue-line, along with Tyson Strachan, Brendan Bell, Alex Pietrangelo, Steve Wagner and Jonas Junland.

Click here to read more about Sydor’s career . . .

The Blues have also invited left winger Ryan Bayda to training camp on a tryout basis. Bayda, who was a third-round pick of Carolina in 2000, had five goals and 12 points in 70 games with the Hurricanes last season.

Click here for more on Bayda . . .

JR