With camp around the corner and the season about to start, the St. Louis Blues are starting to hear their expectations around the league by local and national media. While they just missed the playoffs, added in veterans in free agency it seems most are thinking the Blues will be a fringe playoff team at best and more commoningly expected: another season missing the playoffs.
Could this be in favor of the central division franchise? Absolutely! The Blues should take this as an opportunity to sneak up on many opponents as well as many fans in a season where most will concentrate on some of the true contenders (Panthers, Oilers, Maple Leafs, Stars, Avalanche, etc) as well as some of the up and coming teams with exciting young talent (Ducks, Habs, Sabres. Blackhawks, etc).
Lost in those headlines is the focus on preparing for a gritty and well balanced team like the Blues. Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and Jordan Binnington are proven players that should all look to solidify a baseline of production and effort that the rest of the team should springboard from. Jake Neighbours and some of the younger forwards could all be in line for big seasons and if at least some of the pan out (Broberg, Holloway notably) it could mean huge dividends in the win column this campaign.
Will the Blues take advantage of their seemingly anonymity this year is yet to be seen. One thing seems certain though; no one around the league has high expectations for the Blues season, and that is exactly where the Blues can take advantage.