NHL analysis

Major Additions: Paul Kariya

Major Subtractions: Dallas Drake, Curtis Sanford

Analysis

St. Louis should be a fun team to root for over the next few years. They’ve recovered from a pretty disastrous fall and seem now to be heading in the right direction on all fronts.

Paul Kariya won’t turn the team around overnight, nor is he the kind of player you build a franchise around anymore (though he’s close) but he will add some spark and excitement to a team that’s been lacking in both. Aside from his addition, the Blues will look mostly within for improvement. They will also hope that Jay McKee stays healthy to solidify and anchor their blueline.

Playoffs? I wouldn’t count on it, though it’s not out of the question. To truly compete with the big boys in the division and conference, however, St. Louis would need a truly inspired season from one of their goaltenders - and with Manny Legace the expected starter, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that happening anytime soon.

Parts 1 through 3:
Atlantic - Crosby, Malkin, Staal
Northeast - Forward vs. Defence Salaries
Southeast - Stanley Cup Hangover

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Central Division: 10 Years Too Late?

The St. Louis Blues look this season to become only the third team in history to go from last place to a playoff spot in a single year. One of the central pieces in their plan is the assembly of their new top line, featuring American All-Stars Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight. Or should I say former American All-Stars?

In some ways I really like this top line. Guerin has plenty to prove after being bought out by the Dallas Stars last year and should be more than fired up. Doug Weight is fresh off a Stanley Cup victory with the Carolina Hurricanes and should help tutor the young Blues lineup about what it takes to be a winner. Keith Tkachuk was among the league leaders last season in points per game, and only injuries and a very poor surrounding cast kept him from ranking near the top of the league. All three are getting nearer to the end of their careers and both Guerin and Tkachuk are in the last year of their contracts. The three have played together before and have been successful together at the Olympics. They have a good mix of size, finesse and sandpaper.

On the other hand, St. Louis may have assembled this line a decade too late. Ten years ago this line would have been among the most dangerous in the league. Now that younger, faster, smaller players are becoming more dominant in the league, giving the prime ice-time to a group of aging veterans on a team deep in a rebuilding faze may not be the best long-term solution.

The signing of free agent goaltender Manny Legace will also work against the Blues. Legace is a more than competent starting goaltender by he’s a short term rather than long term solution. He’ll also struggle compared to last season because he’ll be playing in front of a much weaker team. If St. Louis knows what they’re doing, they’ll use him as no more than a steadying, mentoring influence for their younger emerging goalies. The more games Legace plays, the worse the Blues will be in the long run. And if Luongo couldn’t get the Panthers into the playoffs on his own, Legace certainly won’t be able to do it for the Blues.

The Blues’ success this year, and more importantly heading into the future, will not be determined by the American All-Star line they have assembled this year. It is time for their young players to take over, learn from the veterans, and start looking ahead to next season. Because this season won’t have much more to offer the St. Louis fans than did last year.

Additions: Bill Guerin, Dan Hinote, Jay McKee, Doug Weight, Martin Rucinsky, Manny Legace

Subtractions: Patrick Lalime, Mark Rycroft, Jeff Hoggan, Dean McAmmond, Kevin Dallman, Brendan Buckley, Trevor Byrne

Analysis

St. Louis managed to beat out Pittsburgh, Columbus and Chicago for last place last year, ending a streak of playoff appearances that was almost legendary. Admitting the season was a lost cause, they traded away Dough Weight at the trade deadline. True to his word, and fresh off his Stanley Cup victory, Weight returned to the Blues once free agency began. They also picked up Bill Guerin for a paltry $2 million, thogh incentives in his contract could push his salary closer to $4 million before the season is up - and I’m sure St. Louis would be happy to have to pay those incentives. Weight proved something last year and this year Guerin has something to prove. Keith Tkachuk played only 41 games but managed 36 points playing on a very poor team. He is also entering the last year of his contract. Could this be the end of his career in St. Louis? Tough to tell. The three American All-Stars should form a formidable front line, provided they can stay healthy.

In net, Manny Legace will likely be considered the backup out of training camp, as St. Louis will want to give young Jason Bacashuhui every opportunity to grow and develop. However, Legace is a capable goaltender who will provide a mentoring, solidifying influence, and a guy who will be a competent backup or a more than acceptable starter depending on how the youngster performs. Legace’s numbers will not be as solid as last year (playing for Detroit is better than playing against them) but he’s got the right attitude to deal with that and do the best he can.

Jay McKee is a very solid defenceman, but I think he may be asked to do too much in St. Louis. Last year he played for a Buffalo team that was deep at every position, a team that rolled four lines and three pairs on defence. In St. Louis Jay Mckee steps in as the second highest paid player. He makes more than Dough Weight. He makes more than Manny Legace. He makes nearly as much as Backman and Brewer combined, the two men directly behind him on the blueline depth chart. St. Louis made a long term, significant commitment to McKee and he will be expected to earn it. I expect this deal will pay off. McKee played plenty of minutes for Buffalo, blocked a ton of pucks, and was counted upon in important situations night in and night out. He will be counted on even more this year, and should thrive on the challenges he will face. However, McKee is not going to drag his team over the substantial hump to the playoffs.

St. Louis will improve greatly as a team next season, but they will still struggle mightily to climb from the basement and will fall well short of the playoffs for the second straight year.