Write On Sports LLC - "Keep an Eye on the Blues" by Neeks Araco

Keep an Eye on the Blues

2007-11-08 09:39:58 | By: Neeks Araco

I'd watch the St. Louis Blues this season. Every year I keep thinking they're gonna make it. But I believe they can this year... There's a couple big names on this roster, this season, that could help them finally make the Top 8, out in the West.

They finished with 81 points in 82 games, last season. Since then, they've gotten some pretty nice players. One by the name of Paul Kariya. He's got 6 points already in just 3 games played this season. This guy's a dependable scorer. He's scored atleast 30 goals in 8 different seasons. He scored 24 last year. He's scored 80+ points in 6 different seasons, with teams such as the Avalanche, Predators and Ducks, who he went to the Stanley Cup with in '03. He's gonna be very important to the success that the Blues will have this year.

Keith Tkachuk's back. He scored 27 goals last year. I'm sure the fans are happy to see him back from Atlanta... He's scored 2 goals already in just 3 games. I'm sure everyone in St. Louis knows who Tkachuk is. He scored 33 goals in 2003-04 for the Blues. Early in his career he put 52 in the back of the net for the Jets. He'll be key for this season, too.

These two guys, are to go along with some other names, including Doug Weight, one of their few alternate captains. Weight usually puts up 60-90 pts every season. He's capable of scoring 25 goals, too.

Brad Boyes came to the Blues last season,and will probably score between 20 and 30 goals. Lee Stempniak led the team with 27 goals last year. He'll only get better. This is his 3rd year in the NHL.Couldn't complain about Barret Jackman last year. His +/- rating was 20+, even though his team struggled. Blues should be happy with Manny Legace in the crease, too. He was great for Detroit. Legace only played 45 games last year for the Blues but went 23-15-5. If he weren't out for half the season, who knows what the Blues could've done last year? His career sv% is .915 his career GAA is 2.28.

Blues haven't made the playoffs since 2003-04. They finished last in the West in 05, and took 10th in the Western Conference last year. They're only getting better and they've started this season with 6 points, a 3-1-0 record. The Blues are keeping up with Detroit , whose 3-1-1. Blues have a tough division with Nashville and Detroit to compete with. But don't worry St. Louis. I think this year, the Blues will definetely compete.

Post a comment