The St. Louis Blues have made a few moves this past week to improve their team going into next season. The first move was hiring former Buffalo Sabres goaltending coach, Jim Corsi.
The hiring of Corsi is confusing for some, as he has been Ryan Miller's goaltending coach in Buffalo for more than a decade. Yet the Blues have made it clear that Ryan Miller is not in the teams future plans. With Jake Allen and Brian Elliott both signed on one-way deal for next season, there is no room for Miller.
The Blues recently fired Corey Hirsch, who has done some excellent work with Brian Elliott over the last few seasons. So the Blues fire Hirsch, who's worked well with Elliott, then hire Corsi, who helped Miller develop into the goalie he is now. Makes sense right?
Well this hiring wasn't for Elliott, and it certainly wasn't for Miller. This hiring was for Jake Allen. The Blues are hoping that Corsi can work his magic on Allen, much like he did with Miller.
In Miller's best season, he posted 41 wins, and registered 2.22 goals against average and a .929 saves percentage. If Allen can come anywhere close to posting those types of numbers in his career, the Blues should be very happy with his development.
In a previous article, I wrote about how the Blues should look to hire Mitch Korn, who's contract expires this year with Nashville. Korn is likely headed to Washington, as he's very loyal to Barry Trotz, who was recently hired by the Capitals. Korn was the goalie coach who basically developed Corsi in Buffalo.
While Korn was the best coach available, Corsi was the second best, so it's still a good addition for the Blues.
The Blues have also signed Swedish free agent forward, Joakim Lindstrom, to a one year, $700,000 contract. . Lindstrom is a very interesting addition. At 30 years old, he's not some prospect who the Blues plan on letting develop in the minors.
Lindstrom has had NHL experience, playing a total of 97 games between Columbus, Phoenix, and Colorado. In the 97 games, he scored 15 goals and 18 assists. Yet in 53 games last season with Skelleftea, he scored 23 goals, 40 assists for 63 points. In 14 playoffs games, Lindstrom scored six goals and 12 assists, tied for the league lead in points in the playoffs.
One of the previous knocks on Lindstrom was he lack of a defensive game. That wouldn't go over well with Ken Hitchcock at the helm. However in the last three seasons, Lindstrom has focused on rounding out his game and has developed a strong two way game.
What drew him to St. Louis? Possibly the opportunity to play with his best friend, Alexander Steen. No doubt Steen is excited for this signing. This is a tweet of his from earlier today.
Super excited for the opportunity to play with one of my best friends! Welcome to St. Louis @joalinds
— Alexander Steen (@Steener20) May 28, 2014This signing, to me, is writing on the wall that there are other changes coming to the roster before next season. With the Blues having Steen, Jaden Schwartz, and now Lindstrom on the left wing, where does that put a guy like Patrik Berglund? Berglund joined the Blues as a center but they have experimented with him as a winger.
They could use him back at center, but they already have Vladimir Sobotka, who started as winger, and has transformed into an ideal center under Hitchcock.
Berglund could be tried on right wing, but Dmitrij Jaskin is set to join the Blues full time next season and the third line wing would basically be his to lose. It looks this could be the end of the line for Berglund as a Blues forward. He's scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer and could potentially be used as a trading chip to acquire a top six center.
What are your thought's on the hiring and signing of Corsi and Lindstrom?