NHL.com provides in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of the 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Now, the St. Louis Blues.
St. believes Louis Blues who now have the pieces to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify last season for the first time since 2017-18.
However, after sixth place in the Central Division with 81 points (37-38-7), 28 less than in 2021-22 (49-22-11), the question is whether rebuilding is necessary off.
“I said we’re on the 50-yard line and I’m hoping to go to the offensive zone, not the defensive zone from the 50,” St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I said to a couple of players … that there is [Brayden] Schenn and [Pavel] Buchnevich and [Brandon] Promise and [Jordan] Kyrou and [Robert] Thomas and [Colton] Parayko and [Justin] Faulk and [Nick] Leddy and [Torey] Circle and [Jordan] Binnington, I can’t believe this is a complete rebuild. I don’t think those people would allow that to happen. They are part of a downward spiral that they cannot stop.
Which is why some offseason changes were made, although not what could be called a major overhaul.
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The Blues, who allowed 298 goals last season, their most in a season since 1983-84 (316), opted not to bring back assistants Mike Van Ryn and Craig MacTavish. They were replaced by Mike Weber, who will work with the defensemen after spending the last three seasons as an assistant with the Buffalo Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, and Michael Babcock, who will be a skills coach.
Alexander Steen, who helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history in 2019, has also been hired as a European player development consultant.
“We’re trying to think outside the box of how we’ve been organized the last two years, and we can get back in the same box, but we can also be different,” Armstrong said.
The most notable addition to the roster is Kevin Hayeswho was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers on June 27 for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Last season, the 31-year-old center had 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) in 81 games and played in the NHL All-Star Game for the first time.
“They just won,” Hayes said on June 28. “They have a great goalie (Binington), a great D-corps and the nine wingers in their top nine are some of the best in the League. It’s very interesting and exciting to be a part of that group.”
Video: St. Louis Blues 2023-24 Season Preview
Despite the addition of Hayes, if the Blues want to return to the postseason, they will need more from Kyrou and Thomas, who are each entering the first season of an eight-year, $65 million contract ($8.125 million average annual value) .
Although Kyrou is the leader of St. Louis in goals (37) and points (73) in 79 games last season, he is also minus-38, which is tied for the second worst in the NHL. Thomas has 65 points (18 goals, 47 assists) in 73 games.
“Obviously, you want to get better in all areas of your game,” Kyrou said. “For me, obviously I want to try and get that consistency of playing harder with the puck and maybe a little better defense in some areas.”
Binnington also needs to regain his form after he posted NHL career worsts in goals-against average (3.31) and save percentage (.894) in 61 games (60 starts) last season.
But this can be easier said than done. Since he burst onto the scene and helped the Blues win the Cup as a rookie in 2019, Binnington’s goals-against average and save percentage have gotten worse each season.
“Not satisfied,” Binnington said. “Having said that, I feel good. … I try not to think too far ahead. I try to stay in the moment, and I did that all season (last year) and keep things going, feeling it. good or bad and continue to carry that with me to move forward and continue to improve.”
A final point of emphasis for the Blues is their special teams. They were tied for 22nd in the NHL on the power play and 30th in penalty kills (72.4) last season after ranking second and fifth, respectively, in 2021-22.
“Listen, the penalty kill didn’t get off on the right foot,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “We’ve actually been going in the right direction for a long time. It’s hard to get back up when you start off bad, but we’re definitely trending in the right direction. I think we can fix the penalty kill. … Again, it’s like defense, it’s a mindset. It’s hard to do penalty killing. It’s a hard job. Defense is a hard job. Everybody wants to play with the puck and make plays and score. goals, but defense is very important, and it’s a tough one to win without good defense and penalty kill. They go together.”
All that seems like a lot to tackle, but Armstrong is confident that the Blues can do it and achieve their goals this season.
“I won’t be shocked if we’re in the playoffs next year, and I won’t be shocked if we’re in the playoffs next year,” he said.