For The St. Louis Blues, Less Is More

Apr 17, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Troy Brouwer (20) and New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) battle for the puck in the second period in game two of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As we creep closer to training camp and the start of the 2015-2016 NHL season, I’ve had some time to reflect on the St. Louis Blues’ offseason.

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This offseason saw players such as Barrett Jackman and T.J. Oshie depart for new clubs. Jax signed in Nashville as a free agent. The Oshie trade that brought Washington winger, Troy Brouwer, to the St. Louis Blues made the biggest splash. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues GM, also signed superstar Vladimir Tarasenko to an 8-year deal worth $60 million, which Bleedin’ Blue analyzed earlier this month.

These moves saw club favorites shipped off, or a player with huge upside was given a long-term contract. The reason they stand out are because they’re the only ‘flashy’ moves made by Armstrong and co. this offseason. For a club that has made crashing out of the playoffs in the 1st round into a habit, it may not be enough to push further into the postseason in 2016.

Time will tell if less truly is more for the Blues.

In an interview with the St. Louis Post Dispatch in early August, St. Louis Blues owner, Tom Stillman, discussed the offseason progress, or lack thereof, his team had made. He said, “It’s hard to see where massively changing the roster makes sense when that roster has, by all accounts, been one of the strongest teams in the National Hockey League the past three or four years.”

In a sense he is right. The team has finished near or at the top of the division in recent seasons, and perhaps the team just fails to hit its stride late in the season. The St. Louis Blues kryptonite may be the postseason, but perhaps it’s time to look inward instead of outward for improvement in the playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues have never won a Stanley Cup. Bringing that championship to St. Louis would be the only way to prove that the current roster is good enough to define success. I recently discussed how the only way for the Blues to have a “successful” season in 2015-2016 is to reach the Stanley Cup finals. Otherwise, I believe rebuilding around Tarasenko will be an inevitability next offseason. Even more club favorites, coaches, and team executives will be looking for new work if it comes to that.

Stillman went on to say, “How much are you going to decide — we’re obviously a very strong team — without massive changes we’re not going to succeed in the playoffs? Is it that or other things that have to be adjusted?” Here I have to agree with the St. Louis Blues owner. It is true that the Blues are a very good team. They have no problem making the playoffs. That being said, even the casual hockey fan notices there is a difference in style of play from regular season games in January to postseason games in the spring.

The postseason play is faster, tougher, and grittier. Perhaps the Blues disappointment in recent postseasons is enough to build that experience necessary to get them over the hump, but I’m afraid it may be more of the same come April and May. Stillman may believe his current team is enough to push them further in the playoffs, and his logic makes sense.

I don’t think the the additions of Troy Brouwer and Scott Gomez on a PTO offer will be enough to get them into the Stanley Cup finals. They’re moves that made sense, but may not be enough. Time will tell if less truly is more for the Blues.

Next: Gomez Gets PTO With St. Louis

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