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Five Questions The St. Louis Blues Must Answer This Preseason

By Todd Panula

May 23, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues center Patrik Berglund (21) in action against the San Jose Sharks during the first period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The Sharks won the game 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues center Patrik Berglund (21) in action against the San Jose Sharks during the first period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The Sharks won the game 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Team Canada defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (4) skates against Team Europe during the second period of preliminary round play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Team Canada defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (4) skates against Team Europe during the second period of preliminary round play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Will There Be Any World Cup Burnout?

This one will be harder to answer in training camp, since the players taking part in the World Cup will still feel fine. However, their practice and preseason game time should be tempered to avoid any problems down the road.

The Blues have avoided any major injury during the tournament and everyone is grateful for that. Given the lack of build up for the tournament and relative intensity most put into it, it might be a sudden shock to the body.

There was very little practice time beforehand. It wasn’t quite like going through a normal preseason.

It wasn’t going from zero to 100 by any means, but it was jumping into meaningful games right away. There wasn’t much space between games wither.

Thus, the Blues are going to have to reign in their World Cup players just a bit. They know where most of them fit in the lineup.

Just about anyone with question marks will be in training camp from the start. Yes, less time spent with the World Cup players takes away some chemistry building, but the Blues can’t afford injuries the way they happened last year.

The team can’t have guys peaking in January, unable to contribute come time for the playoff push. They need as many hitting their stride at the same time as possible.

Next: Blues Keeping Alexander Steen Around

For those players, perhaps the World Cup should serve as their preseason. They should practice with the team, but really, it is unnecessary for them to take part in preseason games.

Now is not the time to push guys into the wall when the season has not even begun.

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