NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and analysis for each of the League’s 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Here are 3 of NHL.com’s important questions facing the St. Louis Blues.
1. Can Jordan Binnington be counted on?
Binnington was 18-14-4 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 37 games, splitting the goalie duties with Ville Husso last season. But he came on strong during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he was 4-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .949 save percentage in six games before sustaining a season-ending injury during the Western Conference Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Blues traded Husso to the Detroit Red Wings on July 8 and signed Thomas Greiss to a one-year contract July 13, so it’s Binnington’s net again. The Blues will need him to perform at a high level to succeed, much like he did in the playoffs.
“I was feeling good, for sure,” Binnington said. “I think after [a] season like this one, it was definitely interesting and a year of experience for me, for sure. I really tried to put the work in and it kind of came to fruition towards the end. It’s unfortunate how it ended. I’ve got to just keep working.”
2. What will happen with Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly this season, and moving forward?
Each forward is in the final season of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Tarasenko played 75 games last season after playing 34 games the previous two seasons because of a series of shoulder injuries that required multiple surgeries. He had an NHL career-high 82 points (34 goals, 48 assists). The 30-year-old hasn’t publicly rescinded his request for a trade that he made prior to last season.
“I’m not concerned about ‘Vladi’ for next year at all,” General Manager Doug Armstrong said. “I’m going to worry about 2023-24 a year from now.”
O’Reilly has said he would like to re-sign with St. Louis.
“Oh, absolutely,” the 31-year-old forward and Blues captain said after the season. “It’s a place I want to be. Yeah, it’s crazy going into a contract year. It feels like time kind of flew by. I’m sure we’ll try to figure something out.”
3. Can the Blues keep the Stanley Cup window open?
Since winning their first Stanley Cup title in 2019, the Blues have won one playoff series, against the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference First Round last season.
After a second-round loss to the eventual-champion Colorado Avalanche, they feel steps were made in the right direction to get back to the top of the conference.
“Yeah, we’re definitely very close,” O’Reilly said. “… Obviously we didn’t beat Colorado, but the confidence in the group around and talking to guys, we know we can give ourselves a better chance to win and be right there, so it’s going to come down to having a good summer, being in shape, getting healthy and ready to start right again.”
