Blues’ Path Back to the Playoffs Lies in Their Prospect Pipeline

The St. Louis Blues‘ playoff aspirations suffered a significant setback during their recent East Coast road trip . Facing off against formidable opponents in the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and the Boston Bruins, the Blues managed to secure only two victories, effectively diminishing their chances of contending for the Stanley Cup. However, amidst this disappointment, one crucial aspect deserves recognition: the Blues’ point total.

Despite their inconsistency on the ice, the Blues are in a relatively favorable position. While they currently trail teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings in the standings, the differentiating factor lies in the accumulated overtime points.

Currently, the Blues boast 69 points with a 33-29-3 record and maintaining a winning percentage above .500. Under normal circumstances, this record would position them well for a wild-card spot. However, they currently sit eight points behind in the Western Conference wild-card race. This is where the significance of overtime points becomes evident.

For instance, consider the Kings, who hold the third spot in the Pacific Division with 32 wins and 20 losses. Despite having fewer wins, their 11 overtime losses mean they have eight more points than the Blues. If the Blues had been able to push more games to overtime, even if they hadn’t won, not only would they be in contention for a wild-card spot, but they might also have been in position to be buyers at the trade deadline on March 8. Instead, the Blues made zero moves and many expect them to be sellers during the offseason.

The Blues’ Struggles Are Easily Rectifiable

The Blues’ roster has performed admirably, but there’s one crucial adjustment needed to optimize their lineup. While the top line boasts consistency and playmaking prowess, the same cannot be said for the second line featuring Brandon Saad, Brayden Schenn, and Jake Neighbours. This line has been plagued by inconsistency and has hindered the team’s offensive output.

Neighbours shows promise, particularly around the net, where he’s scored most of his goals. However, Schenn and Saad, although experienced veterans who understand their roles, and have failed to produce consistently. As a result, the Blues find themselves overly reliant on their top line for goals, exposing a significant weakness in their lineup.

To address this issue, the…