St Louis fades with not a bang but a whimper (AP)
St Louis Times Picayuune dispatch star big book of coupons (AP)
While St Louis was happy to return to the CPHL playoffs showing improvement over last seasons debacle of epic proportions, they were shuffled out of the playoffs in 5 close games. The Blue's fell 4-2 last night in the series closer starting what might be a long off season of looking in the mirror by the players, coaches and management staff. While not expected to do much against one of the teams elite teams, the Blue's were certainly disappointed with the results.
Last nigh followed the same formula for the Blue's as they fell behind in a close game and were never able to claw all the way back as the Pred's salted the game and series away late in the 3rd period.
Couture, Stephenson and Duclair provided their expected offense, but after that goals were more difficult to come by. But the biggest problem was the goaltending killed the teams chances as Mikko Koskinen posted a 3.70 gaa and a .881 svpct which was going to guarantee a loss. Brodie, Zadorov and Hall were poor without the puck and seemed lost at times in the face of a determined Nashville attack.
With the loss the Blue's season has come to the end, and the Blue's don't have much in the way of draft picks, and while there might be some help coming from the farm for next year as Dylan Coghlan and maybe Egor Sokolov might audition for roles in the big club. The off season certainly has to focus on organizational depth.
As well there are several key free agents that have to be addressed.
Mikael Granlund struggled when he came to the Blue's but its likely that the Blue's will want to resign him to a long term deal.
Anthony Duclair continues to improve and is a RFA and will likely garner a long term deal.
Phil Kessel will likely go to free agency, he's too expensive for what he brings and the Blue's are going to need the cap space.
Chandler Stephenson like Duclair is a RFA and is certain to get a bridge deal this off season.
Jaden Swartz is a question mark, I think the team would like to explore bringing him back on a bridge deal, but are not convinced that he's going to be a good roi in the bottom 6.
Colton Sissons will certainly get a bridge deal as a RFA. The Blue's management really like what he brings to the table as a checking forward.
TJ Brodie will likely go to free agency unless the team can get a good deal for him. Cam Fowler will be a decision that's made in the future as he's still considered to be in his prime as a top pairing defender. Its also expected that the Blue's will resign Mike Matheson to a Bridge deal as will late arrival Nikita Zadorov who played fairly well in his short stint with the Blues.
In terms of the areas that need to be improved on. The Blue's have to be fairly happy with the top 6. But their bottom 6 just wasn't good enough. The Blue's were also lacking in strong shutdown defensemen. But its clear that the biggest area of concern has to be goaltending, and the Blue's will certainly spend any available dollars on both a goalie and at least one more top 6 winger.
For now, the Blue's will do what all of us everyday normal slobs do and sit back and watch the playoffs.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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