As we approach the 2016-17 season, we’re previewing what’s ahead for each of the 30 NHL teams. Here’s what’s on deck for the St. Louis Blues.
MAIN SUMMER HEADLINES
• 2016-17 to be Blues coach Hitchcock’s last
• Mike Yeo to take over as Blues head coach in 2017
• Blues acquire Yakupov in trade with Oilers
• Jackman retires as member of Blues after 14 seasons
• Schwartz out at least four weeks with elbow injury
• Steen re-signs with Blues for four year, $23 million
• Blues name Pietrangelo 21st captain
Head coach: Ken Hitchcock
GM: Doug Armstrong
Team payroll: $71.54 million ($73 million salary cap)
2015-16 Record: 49-24-9 (Second in Central)
GF: 224 (15th in NHL)
GA: 201 (Fourth in NHL)
Result: Lost in Western Conference final to San Jose, 4-2
Acquisitions: Nail Yakupov, Morgan Ellis, Landon Ferraro, Carter Hutton, David Perron, Kenny Agostino
Key departures: Steve Ott, David Backes, Troy Brouwer, Brian Elliott
Rookies To Watch: After adding a couple rookies (Colton Parayko, Robby Fabbri) last season, there isn’t as much opportunity for a freshman breakthrough in 2016-17, but there are a couple guys who could see time if the injury bug hits the Blues.
Kenny Agostino wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the Flames and signed on with the Blues — he was among the final cuts at training camp. At 24 years old, the 2010 fifth round pick is coming off a 23-goal, 57-point season in the AHL and recorded a five-point game in pre-season. Ivan Barbashev and Landon Ferraro are a couple other players sent down to the AHL, but who could earn a call-up.
On defence, Jordan Schmaltz, who scored 36 points in the AHL last season, also made a strong push at camp but was ultimately sent down. Schmaltz is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defenceman taken 25th overall in the 2012 draft. Last year was his first as a pro after moving on from the University of North Dakota.
St. Louis will have a successful season if…
There’s no question the Blues are a tight-checking and tough team, but if they can add some more goals to their game, they could take the Central Division. Vladimir Tarasenko is coming off a 40-goal season so he’ll take the lead, but only one other Blues player (David Backes) reached 20 goals — and he’s no longer with the team. Jaden Schwartz, who is expected to miss the start of the season, needs to stay healthy the rest of the way and he could take a run at 30 goals. Robby Fabbri scored 18 last season and is another young candidate to step up as St. Louis’ next emerging sniper.
St. Louis will have an unsuccessful season if…
Jake Allen doesn’t take the No. 1 job and run with it. With Brian Elliott out of the picture, the 26-year-old Allen is now the lead guy in St. Louis, with Carter Hutton as the backup. It’s the first time Allen hasn’t been in a tandem, so he should hit a new high in games played. He’s certainly shown he has the potential as a No. 1, posting a .920 save percentage in 47 games last season, but now there is no safety net. If Allen falters, the Blues will have a tougher road.
The team also lost some important veterans in David Backes and Troy Brouwer and risk losing some of the power that’s helped define them under Hitchcock. They could come to miss that presence.
