Bleedin' Blue
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St. Louis Blues: Central Division To Return To Toughest Division Status

By Todd Panula

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 07: St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is shown during Game Six of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues, held on May 7, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 07: St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is shown during Game Six of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues, held on May 7, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Blues
ST. LOUIS, MO. – APRIL 09: Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) blocks a shot by St. Louis Blues center Ivan Barbashev (49) during an NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues on April 09, 2017, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO. The Blues won, 3-2. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Colorado Avalanche

We’ll start off with the easiest one. Apologies to the Avalanche fans, but the once proud team has become somewhat of a joke.

I don’t say that with malice either. The Avs used to be my second favorite team when they had my favorite player of all time, Patrick Roy, on their roster.

However, their rebuilding efforts are currently making the scuffling of the Edmonton Oilers look like Edmonton was moving at light speed. It is just hard to figure out what the Avalanche are doing since they move certain guys for picks/prospects but ask for too much for others.

Several teams, including the Blues, were interested in Matt Duchene. Instead of turning him into a haul of picks or prospects, Joe Sakic held onto him in hopes that he can still be the cornerstone of the franchise.

Duchene has talent, but it is beginning to look like his 70 point season was a one year wonder. At this stage, even at 26, he might be more in that 50-60 point mold.

The Avs do have some good talent, but there is not nearly enough depth to really include themselves in any kind of division talk. When you’re taking Nail Yakupov off the Blues hands, your present is not looking that great I’m afraid.

Sorry Avs, but it is going to be another long year in the mile-high city.

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