Former St. Louis Blues forward Mike Danton, currently imprisoned in the U.S. for plotting to have his agent killed, has been turned down in his bid to be transferred to a Canadian prison.

Instead, Danton will continue serving time in an East St. Louis facility. The U.S. Justice Department's international prisoner-transfer unit rejected his request because of the seriousness of his crime.

Danton was sentenced to 7½ years in prison on Nov. 8, 2004, for plotting to have his former agent David Frost killed.

Former NHL player Mike Danton will not be transferred to a Canadian prison. (CP File Photo)

A native of Brampton, Ont., Danton claimed he has been treated unfairly in the United States, but federal prosecutors countered he previously waived his right to challenge his sentence and was never guaranteed a transfer to Canada.

Danton's lawyer says he'll appeal the transfer decision.

Danton pleaded guilty on July 16, 2004, after admitting that he sought to have Frost murdered.

The plan unravelled when the would-be hitman turned out to be a police informant.

Frost, who was never harmed, has frequently denied he was the target.

Danton has been in jail since he was arrested April 16, 2004, in San Jose, Calif., one day following the Blues' elimination from the NHL playoffs by the San Jose Sharks.

Danton, who began his troubled NHL career in New Jersey, likely won't return to the league upon his release.

There is no parole in the federal system and U.S. District Judge William Stiehl told Danton he might be barred from coming into the U.S. after completing his sentence.

Twice suspended by the Devils for disciplinary reasons, Danton sat out the entire 2001-02 season and only played 17 games the following year.

He arrived in St. Louis in a June 2003 trade and scored seven goals, 12 points and 141 penalty minutes in the 2003-04 season.