2023 Central Division Preview Series: St. Louis Blues
By Brian Sweet
![NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Dalibor Dvorsky is selected by the St. Louis Blues with the tenth overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Dalibor Dvorsky is selected by the St. Louis Blues with the tenth overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/083414bdeee462ea0d7176a1ef18c40ffd4d1d4833e280cbe364c807b456c613.jpg)
We now continue our Central Division Preview Series as we head over to Missouri and look at what the St. Louis Blues did last season. The Blues finished in sixth place in the Central Division last season.
The number of defensive issues forced the Blues to be sellers at the deadline last season by trading Vladamir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, and Ivan Barbashev. That allowed them to restock for the future. Let’s take a look at how the St. Louis Blues tackled the offseason and how they could do this upcoming season.
St. Louis Blues Preview: Key Losses
Vladamir Tarasenko
Ryan O’Reilly
Ivan Barbashev
St. Louis Blues Preview: Key signings
Kevin Hayes
Oskar Sundkvist
St Louis Blues Preview: Assessment
It’s kind of tricky to predict how the St. Louis Blues will do this season, to be honest. They traded a lot of their good talent at the trade deadline last season and restocked on prospects. It’s going to take some time to get team chemistry if they decide some of their prospects are ready for the big leagues.
I think we will get a better picture of who might make the roster with the prospect tournament and preseason hockey. Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich will be their main threat offensively next season.
St Louis Blues Preview: 2023-24 Prediction 5th place
It’s going to be a rough year for the St. Louis Blues this season. They basically signaled to the league that they are about to go through the rebuilding process. I wouldn’t be shocked if they ended up being sellers at the trade deadline again this season. A lot of their top prospects might get some playing time after the deadline if they end up doing that. I think that the Blues’ fans better buckle their seat belts because they are about to watch some rough hockey this season.