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A Busy Offseason Lies Ahead for the Blues

May 24, 2021, 10:26 AM ET [7 Comments]
John Gove
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Elimination is never an easy pill to swallow. Even when it is expected, defeat is not something easily accepted.

Were the St. Louis Blues expected to beat the Colorado Avalanche in their first-round series? No, not really.

Were they expected to put forth a more competitive effort? Most would argue yes.

In reality, the Blues were swept decisively by the Avs. Not only showcasing the disparity between the two teams but also spotlighting the deficiencies surrounding the makeup of this current St. Louis roster.

Could we spending time rehashing the painfulness that was the first-round series against Colorado? Sure we could. However, what good would it do?

We all know the major storylines already. St. Louis dealt with an injury-plagued roster, just like they had all season. Nobody, including the team's key players, could generate anything offensively. Too many careless mistakes occurred against a dangerous team in transition, and the lack of size and physicality on defense was exposed throughout the series.

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, the Blues have been eliminated in round one of the playoffs for two straight years. Of course, this is unacceptable. The front office knows it, the coaches know it, the team knows it, and the fans know it. Still not in a position where a complete rebuild is necessary, Doug Armstrong needs to identify to holes and weaknesses that led to failure this season and make the necessary changes over the summer.

We will dive into specific tasks and moves in the future. For now, all that needs to be said is Armstrong is going to have his hands full.

The roster top-to-bottom is filled with question marks. Tough decisions need to be made regarding upcoming free agents, both unrestricted and restricted. Size, strength, and defensive skill need to be added to the blueline to compliment Torey Krug, Justin Faulk, and Vince Dunn (maybe). The backup situation behind Jordan Binnington needs some addressing. Finally, some tough decisions regarding players who remain on the books also need to be made. The player that immediately comes to mind is Vladimir Tarasenko.

Outside of the roster, one would imagine the coaching staff is on a short leash. It is hard to believe that Craig Berube will be let go this offseason. However, heading into the final year of his contract, the pressure for him to get success out of the Blues right from the season's start will be high.

Doug Armstrong never shies away from making bold moves. If he thinks changes need to be made, they well. If he does not think changes need to be made, we might be talking about replacing St. Louis's GM as well.

Hockey might be over for the St. Louis Blues and their fans this season. Now, it is time to buckle up the seatbelts for what should be an action-packed summer.
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