The Blues vow to come in lighter than their $23-million payroll of last season.

Here’s their math:The $2.5 million they reportedly will pay Hawerchuk is really $1.8 million, with $500,000 deferred. Courtnall will get $1.5 million, not the $2.2 million reported. And the $1-million deals Noonan and Fuhr got are $800,000 and $750,000, respectively.

To offset that $5-million expenditure, the Blues have released Glenn Anderson, Todd Elik, Vitali Karamnov, Vitali Prokhorov, Denny Felsner, Geoff Sarjeant, Jeff Batters, Terry Hollinger, Parris Duffus, Steve Staios and Martin Hamrlik.

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That’s $3.8 million. And that doesn’t count a buyout of Peter Stastny’s $1-million contract.

Look for Denver to pursue defenseman Steve Duchesne ($2-million contract).

Center Mike Ricci’s $800,000 contract would be a good return. And with Curtis Joseph and Esa Tikkanen looking for $2-million contracts, a savings could be made there in trades.

Despite perceptions, the price is right in making the Blues a better team.