Seriously! How can anyone think that the St. Louis Blues aren’t going to be a major force during the regular season, but also a make a run deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
What makes last year's electric run a potential precursor of even better things is that the Blues accomplished it without Erik Johnson, their most talented defenseman who was out for the season following pre-training camp knee injury, Paul Kariya, a seven-time All-Star who saw his season cut to just 11 games before having surgery on both hips, plus captain/defenseman Eric Brewer, whose surgically repaired back ended his season Dec. 11 after just 28 games.
"When I see Erik Johnson wind up and then rip one into the net now, I realize even more what we were missing last season and what we accomplished without him," Blues President John Davidson said. "You don't just assume that things are going to be better, but how can they not be with us getting Erik, Paul (Kariya) and Eric (Brewer) back this season?"
"I think we're going to see a fired-up Paul Kariya," added Murray. "I'm convinced, with his pride as a player, he's going to come back very determined."
"The way we look at it is adding Kariya, Johnson and Brewer to your lineup is almost like gaining a few free agents," Davidson explained. "Plus, the extension of Andy McDonald's contract was a key, since he would have become a free agent."
[NHL.com]
I completely agree. They looked strong last season, they return some of their best players, and not mentioned in the article the fact that they have one of the strongest corps of prospects in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteI think the so called experts that I linked previously didn't give them a lot of love. I think they are wrong and the Blues are going to challenge for a top 3-4 spot in the western conference.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be a homer, because remember I'm from Grand Forks. But I think if the Blues keep their $3Million+ players healthy, instead of losing 80% of them for the year. They'll be able to contend for a League title. Too much young talent for them not to prevail.
ReplyDeleteTheir 1st Rounders-(I think they have 14 of them?) will need to keep their current play up.
Also their influx of Free Agent's Ty Conklin, and Brendan Bell. Are HUGE! Bell was the 2nd leading points scorer on the D-line for Ottawa. (Guess what the Blues LACKED A BUNCH OF LAST SEASON??) Yep, scoring from their Defense. Bell, and Erik Johnson will pick up the tab on that.
Goaltending will be 65% Mason, 35% Conklin, and they'll both push eachother. (Manny is no Legace anymore)
My Lines for the year:
kariya- mcdonald - boyes
Oshie - backes - Berglund
steen - tkachuk - Perron
winchester - mcclement - crombeen
king/janssen ready to fight on any given day
brewer-johnson
jackman-bell
colaiacovo-polak
weaver
mason
conklin
PP1
boyes
tkachuk
mcdonald
kariya
johnson
pp2
oshie
backes
berglund
perron
bell
pk1
oshie
backes
jackman
johnson
pk2
mcclement
crombeen
brewer
polak
Shootout:
Oshie
Boyes
Kariya
Perron
Mcdonald
Blues win the cup !!!