St. Louis Blues loaded up aiming for a return to the playoffs after 2 years out

 

[October 02, 2024]  By The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS BLUES
Last season: 43-33-6, missed playoffs.

COACH: Drew Bannister (30-19-5 as midseason replacement for Craig Berube).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 8 at Seattle.

DEPARTURES: C Kevin Hayes, D Marco Scandella, LW Jakub Vrana, D Torey Krug (injured).

ADDITIONS: D Philip Broberg, F Dylan Holloway, F Radek Faksa, F Alexandre Texier, F Mathieu Joseph, D Ryan Suter, D Pierre-Olivier Joseph, assistant Claude Julien.

GOALIES: Jordan Binnington (28-21-5, 2.84 goals-against average, .913 save percentage) and Joel Hofer (15-12-1, 2.65, .914).

BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 60-1.

What to expect

The Blues are hoping to get back in the playoffs after missing out the past two seasons. General manager Doug Armstrong brought in a handful of new players by trade, free agency and even offer sheets to bolster his team’s depth. Poaching Holloway and Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers was the stunner of the offseason, and those young players will pay immediate dividends. St. Louis also made some smart value adds in Faksa and Texier. Those players should help, but it will be up to the core of Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, Colton Parayko, captain Brayden Schenn and Binnington to ensure St. Louis is contending in the deep Central Division. Krug will miss the entire season after ankle surgery.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: The Blues were among the better teams in the NHL last season at defending and keeping the puck out of their net, and that was before adding Suter to bolster the blue line. Binnington has been maligned for inconsistency since backstopping them to the Stanley Cup in 2019, but the fiery netminder is still in his prime and capable of stealing games. Thomas, who had 86 points playing all 82 games last year, is a dominant player who will be counted on to drag teammates into the fight.

St. Louis Blues' Dylan Holloway (81) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The not-so-good: Goals need to come from somewhere. St. Louis ranked 25th out of the league's 32 teams in scoring last season, and the moves made during the offseason do not necessarily address that. The Blues had the 24th-ranked power play, too, and were not much better on the penalty kill. Bannister, in his first full season behind the bench, must improve special teams for his group to make the leap into playoff contender status.

Players to watch

Kyrou got a $65 million contract through 2031 two years ago with the projection of him being a player who takes over games along with Thomas. The Blues still need to see that characteristic out of him. Broberg, who was one of Edmonton's best players after getting into the lineup during the Western Conference Final, is one piece of making up for Krug's absence, along with Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich, who at 26 is now an established NHL defenseman. And, of course, Binnington is the key in net. There's a chance he's Canada's Olympic goalie in 2026, and Armstrong is the GM, so he will be watched closely.

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