St Louis Blues Season Preview 2011-12
Ever since a young St Louis team put together a miraculous late season run to break into the playoffs in 2008-09, it feels like the league has been waiting for the Blues to break out and start competing with Nashville, Detroit and Chicago in the Central division, but the reality has been very different. The team hasn’t necessarily regressed, in the sense that their lack of playoff appearances can be as much explained by the strengthening of other Western conference teams, but they certainly haven’t progressed. The good news for the Blues this offseason is that the list of departures is very much shorter than the list of arrivals, and they start with a solid looking and healthy line-up.
Veterans were the name of the game when it came to additions this season, most notably Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott. The experienced duo add experience and offensive depth to a roster that possesses a lot of talent, but hasn’t performed consistently over the past couple of seasons. Kent Huskins also joins the team to add experience to the bottom pair, and feisty energy forward Scott Nichol joins the team and is expected to center the fourth line. St Louis looks ready and better than ever, but one thing this franchise has learned is not to take seeming offseason improvement for granted.
Forwards
St Louis have stacks of talent at the forward position and will easily be able to roll out three good two-way lines with plenty of scoring ability, and a good checking line. Captain David Backes is expected to line-up on the top line alongside Andy McDonald and Jamie Langenbrunner. Backes led the team with 31 goals and 62 points last season, he also brings a strong physical presence and creates room for his line mates. McDonald spent a lot of last season injured, but scored 50 points in 58 games, his faster, speedier game compliments Backes well. Langenbrunner is a slight surprise on this line after some of his recent offensive struggles, but the hope remains that playing with this pair could re-ignite him.
The second line really could break out this season as Chris Stewart and T.J. Oshie are expected to flank Patrik Berglund. Berglund has looked excellent in preseason, and scored 52 points last year. Berglund is still only 23 and has plenty of upside, he could meet those expectations playing alongside Stewart, who is a genuine power forward. Oshie has had his own fitness troubles, but could benefit from this line if he can stay healthy. David Perron is also a good candidate to play on this line when he eventually returns to the line-up. Alex Steen has turned himself into a reliable scorer in St Louis and he is expected to partner Jason Arnott. Arnott still has a solid shot and good hockey smarts, he was reasonably effective with the Capitals after being traded to Washington last season, though third line duty at this stage in his career is certainly the best place in a strong team. Matt D’Agostini could complete this line after he posted a solid 46 points last year. Nichol, Vladimir Sobotka and B.J. Crombeen will form a physical and tough fourth line. Ryan Reaves will probably play while Crombeen is injured. Sobotka has a little offensive upside after scoring 29 points last season, and could play up if injuries hit. Evgeny Grachev has enjoyed a strong preseason, but it is hard to see where he will fit in on this line-up. He hasn’t been sent down to the AHL yet though, so it must be considered that coach David Payne has some use for him somewhere.
Defense
This blue-line belongs to Alex Pietrangelo. He impressed in his rookie season scoring 43 points and playing sound defense. His play was a major part of the comfort level that allowed GM Dough Armstrong to trade away Erik Johnson for Stewart. Second year is notoriously difficult, and being the #1 defenseman on the blue-line is possibly one of the most difficult jobs for a young player to take on. Still, Pietrangelo has proven himself up to the task so far. His most likely partner is Carlo Colaiacovo, who has really developed nicely with the Blues. Part of the reason for that is that he has been healthy playing 65+ games in each of the last three seasons. His point totals remain modest at around the 25-30 mark, but his defense has been sound and he plays a strong role in the transition game.
Another second year defenseman with offensive skills starts on the second pair in Kevin Shattenkirk. Shattenkirk acquitted himself well after being traded from Colorado. There are questions around his overall defensive game, but he has earned his top four position in St Louis. He is likely to be partnered with strong stay-at-home defenseman Barret Jackman. Jackman is a rock on the back-end and should allow Shattenkirk to play his offensive style. The final pair will almost certainly feature another strong defensive defenseman in Roman Polak. Polak is just 25, and has developed pretty well over the last three seasons. He will be paired either with veteran Huskins, or the younger, and perhaps more intriguing Nikita Nikitin.
Goaltending
Jaroslav Halak had an up and down first year in St Louis, but he can start 2011-12 with a fresh slate, but also settled in as the team’s #1 and all that entails. Halak played a career high number of games last season, and playing the number of games that full-time starters play is certainly something to get used to. Halak should be more consistent this season and post better numbers. Brian Elliot serves as the back-up, while Ben Bishop continues to develop his game in the AHL.
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