ST. LOUIS BLUES

2005-06 Recap

Record: 21-46-15, 57 pts (5th Central Division, 15th Western Conf)

Playoffs:

Failed to qualify

Goals For: 197 (30th overall)
Goals Against: 292 (28th overall)

Power Play: 14.6% (27th)
Penalty Killing: 82.2% (15th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: RW Bill Guerin (UFA, Dal), RW Dan Hinote (UFA, Col), D Jay McKee (UFA, Buf), C Doug Weight (UFA, Car)

Key Losses: RW Scott Young (retired), C/LW Dean McAmmond (UFA, Ott), RW Mark Rycroft (UFA, Col), G Patrick Lalime (UFA, Chi)

RFA left to sign: none


Offense: For a team that had no players with more than 50 points, and the worst offense in the NHL, they have some high priced talent. The top line figures to be Doug Weight between Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk. That would have been very impressive 5 or 6 years ago, but now they are all on the short side of the hill, on the slippery slope to retirement. After that the pickings are even slimmer.

Defense: McKee and Jackman are the anchors but like the forward unit, there isn’t much depth as the ownership uncertainty kept the payroll low. The gem of the future is Erik Johnson, taken first overall in the 2006 draft, who will attend college for at least a year.

Goaltending: The most unstable position saw numerous goalies attempt to solidify a position, but the team as a whole was dreadful, and the goaltending didn’t have a chance. Curtis Sanford goes into the 06-07 season as the top seed, but Jason Bicashua will be looked to for relief as the goalies should expect to be overworked this season.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can John Davidson turn the St. Louis franchise around? The new ownership group hired J.D. out of the broadcast booth and he promised changes. However he pretty much has to build from scratch and it remains to be seen whether or not he can take his analysis and put it into practice with a club barely at the level of an expansion team.

Synopsis: Could very well be the worst team in the NHL. No hope for a playoff berth, and if they finish higher than one team, it could be considered a small victory. At least all of the other cellar dwellers have a superstar to watch develop, fans of the Blues have aging veterans who they can watch fall apart.