3 players we would love to see return to the St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues could be way better off if they still had a few players from their core a few short seasons ago, and perhaps one of them will end up returning.
The St. Louis Blues have all but proven they are not good enough to cross back into the playoff threshold with their current lineup. Therefore, changes will be mandatory heading into the summer, and among those changes, bringing in more proven players would be a great place to begin.
If there is any good news to take away from this season, it’s that we know the Blues are a better team than what they were last year, when they finished with 81 points. They aren’t making the playoffs for a few reasons, but if they can finish the regular season with 90, it may set the stage for a better outlook for 2024-25, especially if general manager Doug Armstrong wants the crew to stick together.
It’s also not like the Blues have such a bad roster and lineup despite its shortcomings. Sure, it’s underwhelming. If that wasn’t the case, they would be one of the top eight teams in the West and on their way to facing one of the conference’s two division champions in the First Round.
St. Louis Blues need more help in the lineup for success in 2024-25
But it’s also safe to say this organization is light years ahead of those going through rebuilding periods, even if one of those teams swept them in the season series. It’s also safe to assume they’re not far behind the West’s wild card and top-three contenders - the Vegas Golden Knights, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Nashville Predators.
However, if they want to catch up with those three teams, they must find someone in the offseason to compensate for what has primarily been below-average play in the offensive zone. And what if they turned to a player or two who has worn a Blues uniform in the past?
Let’s explore three pending unrestricted free agents Armstrong should try to lure back to Gateway City.
Vladimir Tarasenko would help with the Blues scoring woes
Vladimir Tarasenko was in town when the Blues won the Stanley Cup back in 2019, and he would be a missing piece for this team’s top-six if the pending unrestricted free agent were interested in returning to St. Louis this summer. Per SpoTrac, Florida isn’t the most cash-strapped team per projected cap space this summer, but if you look at their lineup, they have a lot of decisions to make regarding who will stay and who will go.
This would leave the Panthers with considerably less money to spend, meaning there is a good chance Tarasenko was just a rental this year. If that’s the case, the 32-year-old will be on the market, and as he’s shown, he can still score.
He has 53 points in 72 games as of April 9th, 22 goals, and a solid 15.6 shooting percentage. Tarasenko remains a big help on the man advantage, and he’s been on the ice for 16 goals this season between his time in Ottawa and in Sunrise.
Tarasenko has also helped his teams accumulate 63 goals this season, which is one of the better stats of his career. He may be older, but Tarasenko is still every bit as effective as he was during his time with the Blues between 2012 and 2023.
Dakota Joshua has proven he can play in Vancouver
If there is a younger breakout candidate on this list, it’s Dakota Joshua, a player who has proven he can be an effective middle-six forward in this league. Joshua’s points production heading into Vancouver’s April 8th matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights isn’t overtly impressive, but it’s also not bad, with 16 goals and 29 points in 58 games, good for a half-point per contest.
Joshua wouldn’t just add some much-needed scoring prowess to the Blues; he would also provide a physical presence they have lacked all year. Joshua has hit opponents 224 times so far, and that number could point toward the 240 mark before the regular season ends.
By contrast, the Blues have landed just 1,569 hits in 78 contests, or 20.11 per game, so the edginess a player like Joshua would bring should be welcoming if the Canucks don’t re-sign him first.
Further, St. Louis’ penalty kill has been one of the weaker units in the league, and Joshua would help remedy that. He has a 90.9 on-ice save percentage while short-handed across 106.4 minutes, and he’s seen just nine goals allowed at 4-on-5.
That said, he would help by giving the Blues a hand with their scoring, but he also carries a few more dimensions to his game.
David Perron would invigorate the bottom-six even as he ages
David Perron is yet another player on this list who won a Stanley Cup while with St. Louis, and he was a pivotal member of the team, scoring 46 points and 23 goals in 57 regular season games with the Blues across 17:06 average total ice time. This season, Perron has helped reinvigorate what has been a dormant Detroit Red Wings organization, and there is a chance he will also play in the postseason this year.
But at 35 and some roster turnover looming so the “Yzerplan” can take a step forward, it likely means Perron’s time in the Motor City will end. He will be 36 next season and nearing the twilight phase of his career, but with 41 points and 15 goals in 71 contests, he’s still productive enough for depth scoring.
Like Dakota Joshua, Perron would also bring an edge to the Blues, which they lacked this season. But thanks to his age, he would also likely make a return to Gateway City at a reduced rate should Doug Armstrong try to bring him back.
If that were the case, look for the soon-to-be 18-year pro to find a place in the team’s bottom-six. He’s no longer a 20-plus goal scorer, but Perron would likely put up a season similar to what we have seen in Detroit this year.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)