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Posted: **October 7 10, 10:47 am**

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Its time. Last year was a year of growing pains for the young Blues, who failed to make the playoffs after their miraculous run during the 2nd half two years ago. Now with some vets let go (Tkachuk, Kariya, Mason), its up to the kids to take ownership of the team.

The team will be led by:

Captain Eric Brewer

Alternate Captains:
David Backes,

Alexander Steen

Barret Jackman

Eric Johnson

As well as veteran Andy McDonald

And the return to form of sniper Brad Boyes

The team will also rely heavily on the continued maturation of young players:

TJ Oshie

David Perron

Patrick Berglund

Alex Pietrangelo

Roman Polak

And lets not forget the Blues big offseason acquisition, Goaltender Jaroslav Halak.

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Its time. Every game counts. Playoffs baby. Lets do it.

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Posted: **October 7 10, 11:08 am**

I'm not sure how this season is going to play out. I think the defense and goaltending have improved since last season, but the forwards have taken a step back. Steen-McClement-Crombeen is an excellent 4th line. They leave a bit to be desired as a 3rd line, when the top 2 lines aren't exactly star-studded. Hopefully some increase in offense from the blueline will help off-set what we maybe lack from the forwards.

I think we can be a fringe playoff team though. Most of the teams that finished just behind us last season have gotten worse. Three teams ahead of us (Phoenix, Colorado, Nashville) I don't think are markedly better. So the Blues can certainly slip into the 6-8 spots out west. I don't think they have a chance at the top 5 (CHI, DET, VAN, SJ, LA) unless a lot of things go their way.

Then once you get into the playoffs, who knows. Who thought that the Eastern Conference Finals would pit Montreal vs. Philly?

Posted: **October 7 10, 11:25 am**

Flyers fan here. the Blues can't get off to a slow start like last year. This years team appears to be a good young solid team that will make the playoffs IMO if they do not have any major injuries. Making the playoffs would be a step in the right direction for a young team like the Blues. I always like the rough aspects of the NHL and Janssen, Crombeen, and Winchester will not disappoint.

Posted: **October 7 10, 12:12 pm**

47-27-8 and the 6th seed.

Then, straight to the CUP! *Ric Flair* WOO!

Posted: **October 7 10, 12:15 pm**

I'm feeling pretty good about the team. I think Steener-JayMac are excellent third liners, and that Crombeen is more of a 4th line guy. A guy like Backes might just be the answer there.

Sure, we have the same problem as before, no top scorer to rely on, but I also think a 6-8 playoff spot is possible with the depth we have.

Posted: **October 7 10, 12:33 pm**

JCShutout wrote:I'm feeling pretty good about the team. I think Steener-JayMac are excellent third liners, and that Crombeen is more of a 4th line guy. A guy like Backes might just be the answer there.

Sure, we have the same problem as before, no top scorer to rely on, but I also think a 6-8 playoff spot is possible with the depth we have.

I don't think we need a "top scorer" so much as we need the top 6 to provide 20+. Oshie, Backes, Boyes, and Berglund need to pick it up. Backes doesn't need 35, Boyes doesn't need 40, but we need to score by committee and everyone needs to contribute. I am really happy with having Steen (30 goals this year?) and JayMac on the third line, I think we can score deeper than most teams. Steen/JayMac/Backes would be a ridiculous 3rd line, but there's not a chance that Backes isn't with one of Perron/Oshie/MacDonald/Berglund.

Posted: **October 7 10, 1:20 pm**

Decided it will be NHL Center Ice over NBA League Pass because my cable provider doesn't have the latter. Can't wait!

Posted: **October 7 10, 3:47 pm**

Code: Select all

Player       GP  G   A   PTS
----------------------------
McDonald     82  24  33  57
Boyes        82  25  27  52
Backes       82  21  31  52
Oshie        82  20  32  52
Perron       82  24  26  50
Steen        82  20  27  47
Berglund     82  16  15  31
McClement    82  11  18  29
Crombeen     82  7   8   15
Winchester   82  3   6   9
D'Agostini   45  3   4   7
Sobotka      55  3   4   7
Draznovic    19  1   1   2
Janssen      45  0   0   0
Johnson      82  13  29  42
Colaicovo    82  6   30  36
Polak        82  4   17  21
Jackman      82  2   18  20
Brewer       82  6   10  16
Pietrangelo  58  4   10  14
Strachan     24  0   5   5
----------------------------
Forwards         178
Defense          35
----------------------------
Goals scored     213


Player    GP  SF    SV%  GA       SF = Shots Faced, I'm assuming 30.25 SF/G
----------------------------
Halak     55  1644 .920  133
Conklin   27  817  .915  69
----------------------------
Goals allowed            203

W   L   OTL  Pts
----------------
45  31  6    96

Walt and Kariya scored 31 goals last year and they haven't done anything to replace that production. Other than Boyes, and maybe Backes, there wasn't a lot of underachieving last year. They seem to be hoping that Oshie/Steen/Perron/Berglund will turn into elite scorers capable of putting up 25+ goals this year. I think that is unlikely. Boyes and Backes should rebound, but this team will still struggle to score at times. Overall I expect this year to be a lot like last year offensively.

If Halak continues to be the player he was last year, we have upgraded at goalie but only slightly. The difference between Jaro and Mason should be about 8-10 goals allowed or around 3 points in the standings.

96 points should make us competitive for a playoff spot but hardly a lock.

Posted: **October 7 10, 4:06 pm**

I think Bergie and Backes should rebound...I don't know what to think about Boyes. I'm hoping to be surprised.

Posted: **October 7 10, 5:00 pm**

I'm feeling pretty confident the Blues can make the playoffs. This will be their first full year under Payne and Halak will improve the goalie play. We just need Berglund and Backes to rebound, as well as Boyes. I think Petro stays on the roster for a good chunk of the NHL season.

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