Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – April 02: St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring in the first period during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues on April 02, 2018, at Scottrade Certer, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
ST. LOUIS, MO – April 02: St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring in the first period during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues on April 02, 2018, at Scottrade Certer, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /

11. St. Louis Blues

The long cursed St. Louis Blues have loaded up for this season after heartbreakingly missing the playoffs by a single point last season in the final game. With a bolstered roster, can this be the year they break through?

Last season the Blues finished 17th in the league with 94 points, missing the playoffs by a single point in the Western Conference.

Why they could win

The Blues had a tremendous offseason, filling almost all of their offensive holes that caused them to miss the playoffs last season along with supporting their already fantastic core.

The most important move the Blues made was trading for Ryan O’Reilly to acquire the true number one center that they desperately needed to get themselves over the hump. They paid a hefty price to get him, but the talent he brings to the table as an elite two way center is exactly what the Blues need.

In free agency, the Blues signed David Perron, Tyler Bozak and Patrick Maroon to add their forward depth. The issue down the stretch for St. Louis was that is all the top guys doing the heavy lifting, and they had no support. That will not be an issue anymore. They are now host to an incredibly deep offense on all fronts where depth scoring will come in spades.

The defense for the Blues is also well up to the task. Alex Pietrangelo is one of the most underrated defensemen in the league, and the rest of the defensive core is built of solid top four guys like Colton Parayko, Joel Edmundson and Vince Dunn.

Why they won’t win

Even after all their great additions this offseason, the Blues hardly addressed the issue that has plagued them most, their goaltending. Jake Allen was not good last year, and it cost them down the stretch when he was among the worst goalies in the league statistically after January 1. Carter Hutton was a revelation while Jake Allen struggled during the season, and now he’s gone, replaced by a far less capable Chad Johnson.

In the Central Division, the Blues can’t afford to stumble like they did last year. The teams behind them are too good, and they know how important every single point is to get in.

The Blues are also the Blues. They’ve been around since 1967 and have never won the Stanley Cup with better teams than they have now. It’s going to take a lot more than a good offseason for there to be belief in this organization, they could even win the Presidents’ Trophy this year and not be favorites to win when the playoffs start.

Conclusion

The Blues should absolutely be a playoff team this year after the additions they’ve made, but it’s after that that concerns me. The Central is full of killers and signs point to St. Louis having to play one of Nashville or Winnipeg in the first round, and that will be trouble without consistent goaltending. Even if they play someone else, you aren’t going far in the playoffs without good goaltending no matter how good the team in front of them is. So all in all, an improved regular season for the Blues? Absolutely. A run at the Stanley Cup? Unlikely given their path to the cup. But who knows? The Capitals just broke their curse; why not the Blues this year?

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