St. Louis Blues Offseason Talk: Understanding the lack of changes in defense
So far, the St. Louis Blues are poised to enter the 2024-25 season with few defensive changes. The lack of change is much more strategic than some fans might think.
No significant trade or free agency acquisitions have entered the St. Louis Blues roster at the defenseman position.
Only Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ryan Suter have been added to the team as a defenseman.
Joseph is young, 25 years old, and a former first-round pick himself. However, his NHL numbers have not been noteworthy.
Despite his impressive NHL resume, Suter's productivity has declined due to his age.
In the 2024 draft, GM Doug Armstrong hit the weaknesses early on, drafting three consecutive defensemen. However, none of these players are expected to play in 2024-25.
Defenseman Theo Lindstein was selected in the first round of the 2023 draft and impressed at the July 2024 development camp.
Repeating myself but Theo Lindstein is going to make a heck of an NHL defenseman. This kid just makes everything look so simple. Poised with the puck, makes smart decisions, and when he loses it, he closes down to limit damage. #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) July 3, 2024
Currently, it is not expected for Lindstein to be part of the 2024-25 season.
The question remains, what are Armstrong's plans for the defense in the upcoming season?
The St. Louis Blues ranked better on defense in 2023-24 than given credit for
In previous writings, we've already discussed Colton Parayko's impressive play, notable for his league-leading blocked shots.
Statmuse, a go-to for NHL stats, ranked the St. Louis Blues as No. 11 in "best defensive ratings."
Odds Shark had the Blues ranked at No. 14 in total defense.
The Blues' performance in goaltending, blocked shots, and faceoff wins, where they ranked 11th, was much stronger than commonly acknowledged.
Sure, the Blues don't have a Cale Makar on their roster, but they do have a veteran unit that makes an impact.
As a defensive core, the Blues stayed out of the penalty box ranking number 28 in the league. This stat is crucial and certainly helps the defensive strategy.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong has enough confidence in his existing defensemen not to make any significant changes. Once we analyze stats such as Parayko's blocked shots, high goaltending marks, and lack of penalties, the Blues are pretty good at defense.
While Jordan Binnington had to defend many shots, his successful SV% of .913 proves his elite status.
Do the Blues have one of the best defensive units in the league? No, but they are mid-ranking. Given a better offensive performance in 2024-25, the Blues can not only compete with this existing roster but actually make noise in post-season play.
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