The St. Louis Blues Enter the Season Up Against an Improved Central Division
By Kyle Graden
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.