Last season, the St. Louis Blues surprised many by making the playoffs. Through hard work and sticking to their game plan, the Blues made a statement without any elite talent. Regardless, the Blues are bringing back many faces for the upcoming season but did add a few players with talent. GM Doug Armstrong knows what his team is capable of and wants to add depth without giving up key pieces in trades.
Blues, Armstrong reload with experience
Armstrong added three pieces, all with experience, that can add leadership to the bottom six. Center Pius Suter comes to St. Louis after playing last season with the Vancouver Canucks. he would post career highs in points with 46 in 81 games on 25 goals and 21 assists. Although he is not a big name, he is a solid two-way player who can play on the second or third line and produce offense.
Right winger Matt Luff was added for depth and to play with teh Springfield Thinderbirds, American Hockey League affiliate (AHL) of the Blues. Luff is a fourth-line guy who does the little things right and can chip in offense from time to time. He is a quality addition and a player who is good on the penalty kill and the finer details of the game. He last played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2022-23 season, notching two goals and two assists for four points in 19 games.
Center Nick Bjugstad is the last of the three forward additions and he brings experience and offense to the middle six. Last season, he scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 65 games for the Utah Mammoth. He is a player who is not afraid to go to the dirty areas and get his nose dirty. He solidifies the bottom six and can play anywhere in the lineup. he is most effective when he is playing the body, grinding along the wall, or getting in position in front of the net.Solid addition to the Blues lineup.
Last season, the Blues finished fifth in the Central Division with a 44-30-8 record. They would make the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Winnipeg Jets. St. Louis was slightly above average in goals scored and power play efficiency but both Suter and Bjugstad should help in those departments.
Suter and Bjugstad are expected to be in the opening lineup for the Blues on opening night while Luff is projected to be with Springfield with an odd call-up during the season. This team is still as good as designed and should once again be competitive in the Western Conference.
With these additions and a very few subtractions, the Blues got deeper and added a bit more scoring which should help them in the long run. St. Louis is not likely to be an elite team but a good, solid team from top to bottom. This may be another season where fans do not expect much but will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome. They could even surprise in the playoffs this season.