New Look Blues Ready to Compete

It was nearly one year ago when GM Sal Peralta was handed the keys to the GM's office in St. Louis and, at that time, he decided  to fully overhaul the team.  Most key veterans were moved and the REBUILD was officially on.  At the time, it was anticipated that this movement was going to be a long term situation with at least 3 years of development but after still making the playoffs this past season, the Blues are in a much better situation than opening day 2012-13.  Let's compare the opening day NHL roster to this year's group early in the preseason:

Players no longer with the team:

Dennis Seidenberg D - clearly a strong player still and will be missed

Josh Bailey C/LW - the team intended to keep him as a RFA but the Flyers disrupted that plan :)

Petr Sykora RW - key 1st line contributor last season but has decided to escape to Europe

Alex Burmistrov C - never really put it together in the NHL and now has decided to move onto the KHL

Tom Gilbert D

Michael Frolik RW

Jeff Schultz D

Mathieu Garon G

So some decent players were lost but several have regressed or no longer have NHL teams. 

And, here is the list of key additions since opening day last year:

Mike Green D - powerplay QB and anchor on D for several years to come

Marian Gaborik RW - Taylor Hall's newest linemate and scoring partner.  Rough season last year but we're expecting a bounce back

Frans Nielsen C - Taylor Hall's C on the 1st line and penalty kill specialist along with Brandon Sutter

Fedor Tyutin D - top 4 dman locked up longterm

Lee Stempniak RW - 2nd line RW who will provide an upgrade on that line offensively and defensively compared to last season

Vinny Prospal - 2nd line LW

Matt Cullen - 2nd line C.... as you can see, a complelely new 2nd line has been installed in St. Louis.

Todd Bertuzzi RW - Brandon Sutter's defensive partner on the 3rd line along  with Mikkel Boedker

Justin Peters G - replaced the aging Mathieu Garon as Varlamov's backup G

So, there was a significant overhaul in the starting lineup in one season but, there are several young kids ready to explode onto the scene for St. Louis in the present and future that weren't in the mix when GM Sal Peralta took over reigns.  Only Jacob Silverberg and Jarred Tinordi moved on among key prospects present at the time of Peralta's hiring:

Vlad Tarasenko RW

Joe Colborne C

Quinton Howden LW

Peter Holland C

Brendan Smith D

Jamie Oleksiak D

Vlad Namestnikov C

Pontus Aberg LW

The St. Louis Blues also welcome new head coach Adam Oates to the team, replacing Rich Sutter.  The organization is hoping that Adam Oates' offensive awareness will help propel the team to the next level.   GM Sal Peralta will also be busy at the upcoming draft as he deliberates with the team's scouts for the 3 1st  round picks in the upcoming rookie draft.

So, with the high powered, rival Detroit Red Wings looking stronger than ever, GM Sal Peralta realizes that he's got his hands full but he feels that the team is certainly headed in the right direction and is not only looking at being competitive for this year but for many years to come!

Don't Stop Believing!