The St. Louis Blues Enter the Season Up Against an Improved Central Division
Tough Sledding Ahead
Despite a double offer sheet win, another highly ranked defenseman drafted, and some new veterans signed it looks as though the Blues will face stiff competition in the Central Division this season. With Torey Krug out for the season, an aging defensive core, and some inconsistency amongst the forward group will the Blues be able to keep pace with these seven teams?
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks will be improved. There is little doubt that they will have significantly more points than they have had the past two seasons. Adding in top six forwards like Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi should see the Blues' rival put forth a more balanced lineup throughout the season. Veteran additions like Alec Martinez, TJ Brodie, Pat Maroon, and Laurent Brossoit will help keep Chicago out of the scenario they were in much of last season when they were short-handed due to injuries and poor roster construction. Will this be a playoff team? That's unlikely, however they shouldn't be taken lightly and project to be a 70-80 point team.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado isn't the imposing powerhouse they were when they had a healthy captain and some of the best depth in the league, but they remain on the short list of Stanley Cup favorites due to their immense star power. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen can win games on their own most nights and that is why they'll enter the season near the top of any ranking service. They should vie for the division crown and could push their point mark into the 110 range.
Dallas Stars
Make no mistake about it, the retirement of Joe Pavelski is going to hurt. While the roster that Dallas has is as good as any in the league, the veteran leadership on and off the ice of the future hall of famer will be felt. Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Miro Heiskanen should will the Stars into a 105-108 point mark when all is said and done though.
Minnesota Wild
Here is a team that the Blues should be very aware of. The Wild and Blues project similarly for the upcoming season and it should be interesting to see which team takes an edge on one another. The Wild are talented and have drafted well of late, however they seem to lack that game breaking combination of players to reach higher status. Will Kiril the Thrill and company return to the playoffs or will they fall down the division hierarchy? The answer is likely to be somewhere in the middle. Pencil the Wild in for an 85-95 point season.
Nashville Predators
A trendy pick with pundits far and wide, due to their veteran signings, Nashville will enter the season with high expectations. With new teammates, surroundings, and schemes to learn I for one can't see year 1 going to plan. An improvement is a given, however in this difficult of a league I still see the Predators as a 98-103 point team that will find the league ready for them most evenings.
Utah Hockey Club
Utah / Arizona has made some big strides of late. Not only were they much improved last season, but now they've added an aggresive owner, a #1 defenseman, and a permanent place to play. Add in one of the best young pipelines of under 23 year old players and Utah could leap frog the Blues and Wild into the middle of this division. With questions remaining in net and down the middle, Utah could still make a push towards an 85-90 point campaign.
Winnipeg Jets
It always seems easy to write off the Jets. All of sudden though, they produce a 110 point season on the backs of their superstar players. Connor and Scheifele will lead the offense while Morrissey and Hellebuyck will win on defense. This tried and true recipe has kept Winnipeg in the win column of late, but one would have to think it's a razor thin margain of victory. Will the younger forwards take a step forward? Will their defensive core remain healthy again? Will the demands on Connor Hellebuyck start to wear him down? To me this is a fringe playoff team this season. I think the division could potentially have up to four 100pt teams however I think the Jets are just below that and could be in the 96-99 point range for the upcoming season.
St. Louis Blues
That leaves the St. Louis Blues. Will they fight to be apart of the top half of the division? Absolutely they will, however you have to admit this is easily one of (if not) the most competitive and improved top to bottom divisions in the NHL. There are no easy wins, no luck matchup days, and nothing will be unexacting. A 92 point season a year ago, 5th in the Central, could be a repeated occurrence this season... with the distinct possibility that the division could put a damper on any return to post season play. More than likely this year's Blues team is in the 88-93 point range as it stands.