logo
JetsNation has no direct affiliation to the Winnipeg Jets, True North Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
JN 2016-17 Season Preview: St Louis Blues
alt
Cam Farquharson
Sep 28, 2016, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Invalid DateTime
Comments

Today we are continuing our series of taking a look at our fellow Central division rivals for the 2016-17 season. Once again the Central Division is being looked at as perhaps being the toughest in all of hockey with all seven teams (yes, even the Jets) being legitimate playoff threats.
Today, we look at the St. Louis Blues.

HOW THEY DID LAST YEAR

The Blues finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 49-24-9 for a total of 107 points. They had 224 goals for and 201 goals against. Additionally, the St. Louis Blues controlled a lot of the puck possession with a CF% of 51.02% in 5v5 settings.
Those numbers were slightly worse than the 2014-15 season. The Blues had a record of 51-24-7, for a total of 109 points. They scored 248 goals and allowed 201 goals against. They had a CF% of 51.75% in 5v5 settings. 
However, the 2015-16 season saw the Blues make the Conference finals.
They scored a little less last season, but who did all the scoring? Mr. Vladimir Tarasenko. Tarasenko scored 40 goals and 34 assists, for a total of 74 points. The Blues had 6 players with more than 10 goals, but Tarasenko was the only player to breach the 20 goal mark.
Goal scoring was their down fall, but goaltending was what kept the Blues afloat. Jake Allen and Brian Elliot split the crease fairly evenly. Allen posted a GAA of 2.35 and a SV% of .920 over 47 games and Elliot had a GAA of 2.07 and a SV% of .930.
With Tarasenko scoring the majority of the goals for the Blue, it was easy for opposing teams to concentrate on shutting him down. However, this did not matter, as the Blues were able to ride good goaltending into the Conference Finals. 

AGAINST THE JETS LAST YEAR

The Jets did not fare well against the Blues during the 2015-16 season. They played each other 4 times, with the Blues winning 4 times and the Jets getting 1 win. Over those 4 games the Jets scored 9 goals and let in 12.

WHAT THEY DID THIS SUMMER (ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS)

St Louis had an eventful off-season. They let Captain David Backes go into free agency, signalling a move in a slightly different direction.
The Blues also traded away Brian Elliot, giving the nod to Jake Allen as their full-time starting goalie. 
David Perron was brought back in by the Blues to shore up depth lost by letting David Backes go, which is probably a good thing.
Finally, the Blues named defenceman Alex Pietrangelo as their new captain.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SEASON

St. Louis is a team still in the middle of transition. Gone are the stereotypical tough two-way players in Troy Brouwer, Steve Ott and David Backes. Now, the Blues are moving more towards skill and speed.

They relied heavily on Tarasenko to provide them with goal scoring in the 2016-16 and will most likely look to Tarasenko again. Youngster Robby Fabbri took strides last season, scoring 18 goals, 2nd most on the Blues. He will be looked upon to score more goals. On top of this, the NHL was introduced to defenceman Colton Parayko by the Blues, scoring 9 goals and 24 assists.
A question that needs to be answered is: What are the Blues going to do with Kevin Shattenkirk? He is due to become a free agent after the 2016-17 season and has yet to be extended or traded. Shattenkirk is an elite right shooting defenceman, who led the defence in scoring with 14 goals. Joel Edmundson and Colton Parayko are up and coming defenceman. Can the Blues survive with them filling out their defence corp.
There are a few questions in their roster, but the Blues have the makings of a top team in the NHL. Jake Allen has shown he can take the load of a starter, they have an elite goal scorer and they have one of the deepest defence corps in the NHL. If players like Schwartz and Fabbri can increase their goal totals for the 2016-17 season, they will be able to relieve the pressure off of Vladimir Tarasenko.

Breaking News