St. Louis Blues: Training Camp Preview (Goaltenders)

The St. Louis Blues have not had solid goaltending for an entire season for the better part of a decade. Jake Allen has been giving the reigns once again to start the season and he will need to find his consistency early on.

The St. Louis Blues have had goaltending issues for a while now, the team has relied on Jake Allen for the past three years and they have received mix results.

The Blues lost Carter Hutton to the Buffalo Sabers during free agency. Hutton was one of the best goalies in the NHL a season ago, despite playing in a limited capacity. Because Hutton won’t be around this season, Allen will need to take his game to the next level if the Blues are going to find success.

The Blues and Sabers essentially switched backup goalies, journeyman Chad Johnson joined the team on a one year deal. The Blues will be his seventh different team in nine years and has served in the backup role for the majority of his career.

St. Louis could have a problem replacing their backup goalie if Johnson went down with an injury. Ville Husso is the organization’s top prospect at goalie but by many accounts, he is not ready for a full season in the NHL.

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The Blues also have Jordan Binnington who could fill in as a spot starter if the need arises.

He has only played in one game for the Blues in 2015, acquiring 13 minutes of game action.

This might not be worth anything in the eyes of Blues management, however, he does have experience that Husso does not.

Husso seems to be third on the depth chart when it comes to goaltenders. He still needs a good amount of seasoning and development in the minors before he is ready to make an impact for an extended period of time.

However, if the Blues need Husso to make a start here or there, he could be option number one if both Allen and Johnson are unavailable.

Chad Johnson has spent two of the past three years in Buffalo. Last year he put up a .891 SV % and amassed 10 wins in 29 games started.

He probably will not put up the same kind of numbers that Brian Elliot or Hutton have put up in the past, which will lead to more pressure on Jake Allen to be more consistent throughout the entirety of the season.

Now we get to talk about Jake Allen, the snake has been ridiculed by Blues fans and has been the blame for some of the Blues struggles in recent years.

Last season Allen registered 27 wins and had a .906 SV%. He did, however, struggle once again in the winter months of the season. This is becoming a reoccurring theme for the goalie and was even sent home to get his mind right during the 2016-2017 season.

The lack of a solid backup goalie is a concern heading into the season. If Allen struggles for an extended period of time, it might be difficult for St. Louis to maintain a high level of play in his absence.

With both the offense and defense seemingly becoming the overwhelming strength of the team, it is now even more important that the Blues get good and consistent goaltending from both Allen and Johnson.