The St. Louis Blues concluded their season with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Their journey was marked by ups and downs, starting with a coach firing early in the season, numerous defeats against weaker teams, and a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful push for the playoffs towards the end. This marks the second consecutive season the Blues have missed the playoffs, ending with 92 points, just seven points shy of a playoff spot. Despite an improvement of 11 points from the previous season, there are still areas that need addressing for the team to return to postseason contention. General manager Doug Armstrong faces critical decisions in the upcoming offseason to bolster the roster. Reflecting on the season, various factors contributed to their absence from the playoffs, making this offseason crucial for their future playoff aspirations.
Lack of Secondary Scoring
Throughout the season, whether under former head coach Craig Berube or current interim head coach Drew Bannister, the St. Louis Blues faced significant challenges in scoring. While Bannister managed to elevate the power play unit from last place to a more respectable position, scoring at even strength remained a struggle, with the Blues ranking near the bottom of the league in this aspect. The team heavily relied on stars Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou for offensive production, with few alternatives available.
During last season’s trade deadline, General Manager Doug Armstrong acquired Jakub Vrana from the Detroit Red Wings and claimed Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins in hopes of injecting some scoring depth. Both players showed promise at the end of the 2022-23 season but failed to maintain that momentum. Vrana was eventually sent down to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, after just 21 games, while Kapanen’s role diminished to that of a bottom-six forward, with players like Alexey Toropchenko and Zachary Bolduc seeing more significant minutes.
Veteran players like Brayden Schenn and Brandon Saad, despite finishing the season with respectable point totals, experienced scoring droughts that hurt the team’s performance at crucial times. The addition of Kevin Hayes also didn’t pan out as expected, with his lowest point total in a full season of his career.
The burden of scoring fell heavily on Thomas and Kyrou, who performed admirably, with Thomas emerging as a standout player and Kyrou overcoming early criticism to become a top scorer for the team. However, relying solely on them for offense proved unsustainable.
The emergence of Jake Neighbours as a potential goal scorer and the promising performance of Zachary Bolduc offer hope for the team’s future offensive capabilities. Yet, the underperformance of several veterans in the lineup prevented the Blues from securing a playoff spot this season.
Playing Down to Bad Opponents
Looking back at the St. Louis Blues’ final standing in the league, just seven points shy of a playoff berth, it’s evident that they missed crucial opportunities to secure points against lower-ranked teams this season. While every NHL team poses a challenge, playoff-bound teams often capitalize on matchups against non-playoff teams to bolster their standings. Unfortunately, the Blues struggled in this regard, dropping key games against teams like the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Chicago Blackhawks, all of whom finished near the bottom of the standings.
Interestingly, the Blues demonstrated their capability by performing admirably against playoff-caliber teams, securing wins against formidable opponents like the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. However, their inconsistency plagued them throughout the season, as they failed to string together significant winning streaks and lacked stability from game to game. This inconsistency, particularly early in the season, prevented them from gaining momentum and accumulating crucial points that would have alleviated the pressure in the later stages of the season.
To address these issues moving forward, the Blues must prioritize stability behind the bench. While interim coach Drew Bannister made positive contributions, navigating a challenging situation, the team needs continuity and a consistent approach to maximize their potential. Additionally, filling gaps in the roster with players suited to their roles will enhance overall performance. When players are forced into roles beyond their skill set, it disrupts team cohesion and effectiveness, as evidenced by the Blues’ struggles this season.
General Manager Doug Armstrong’s task is to identify and acquire complementary pieces during the offseason, particularly for the offense. By strengthening the roster with suitable additions, the Blues can regain consistency and competitiveness, positioning themselves for a successful push towards the postseason.
Too Much Reliance on Goaltending
Jordan Binnington’s performance this season for the Blues was nothing short of remarkable. He ranked fourth in the league in goals saved above expected (GSAA) and wins above replacement (WAR) among goaltenders, boasting a 28-21-5 record and a .913 save percentage (SV%). Despite any attempts to downplay his achievements, Binnington’s consistency throughout the season undeniably places him among the top goaltenders in the league, warranting consideration for Vezina votes.
Backing Binnington, rookie goaltender Joel Hofer provided stability in his first full NHL season, alleviating the workload typically shouldered by Binnington. At 23 years old, Hofer performed admirably with a 15-12-1 record, a 2.65 goals-against average (GAA), and a .914 SV%, contributing significantly to the Blues’ goaltending strength.
However, despite the stellar goaltending, the Blues fell short of expectations due to inconsistency in front of the net. The offense struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities or maintain possession of the puck, making it difficult to secure victories even with exceptional goaltending performances. While Binnington and Hofer consistently kept the team competitive, the lack of offensive support hampered their efforts throughout the season.
This lack of consistency, coupled with insufficient scoring production from secondary players on the roster, particularly in games against subpar opponents, contributed to the Blues missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Despite the disappointment, there are promising signs for the team’s future, including the development of young talents like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, Zach Bolduc, and Zach Dean.
Looking ahead, the Blues must address their shortcomings during the offseason to reestablish themselves as playoff contenders. General Manager Doug Armstrong and the management team face crucial decisions in shaping the roster and fostering growth within the organization. While there’s optimism for the future, significant strides are necessary for the Blues to mount a successful playoff push next season.
