2009-10 NHL preview: St. Louis Blues

This might be the year for St. Louis Blues fans to celebrate, or it night not. One thing is for sure and that is the Blues are back. After making the playoffs for the first time since 2004 the Blues are back, back to relevance in the NHL, and looking to start another 25 year run in the playoffs. While the Blues were swept out of the first round, we can ignore that since the Blues two top defenseman, and top winger barely played in that series due to injuries.

Now we come to a new season where Paul Kariya is healthy, Erik Brewer, and Erik Johnson are also healthy and this team is ready to return to the playoffs. While the Blues did not make a big off season move they feel returning their three top stars, and adding valuable backups will earn this team a second straight post season birth.

The first good backup comes at the goalie position. The Blues add Ty Conklin, who just might be the best back up goalie in the league. Conklin gives the Blues the ability to manage starter Chris Mason’s workload. No longer will Mason have to carry the load himself, since Conklin can come in and manage the game extremely well.

The Blues also resigned, star Keith Tkachuk, who has spent much of the last decade there, but it says a lot about what he thinks of this team, and what the expectations for this team should be.

Additions- D Brendan Bell, G Ty Conklin, RW Adam Cracknell, D Justin Fletcher, and RW Barry Tallaclson

Subtractions- D Jay McKee, C Trent Whitfield, and D Jeff Woywitka