Do the St. Louis Blues have another Stanley Cup run in them? That is certainly a hot question among observers. If last season was any indication, then it’s affirmative. St. Louis gave Colorado a tough, six-game Western Conference playoff series, eventually losing when starting goalie Jordan Binnington was hurt. That wasn’t the only reason, but it certainly did not help.
St. Louis is, at the least, a playoff contender. The NHL odds have them just about a shoo-in to make the postseason. This is one of the veteran teams in the league, with its core players still in their prime.
At their best, the Blues are the second-best team (just behind Cup-champion Colorado) in the conference. They were in the top five in the league in nearly every category of consequence. With some consistency in the net, they will be hard to beat.
Let’s check the latest NHL picks, stats, injury reports, and NHL predictions. We’ve plenty of NHL expert picks for you to consider.
St. Louis Blues Current Odds
- To win Stanley Cup: +2800
- To win Western Conference: +1400
- To win Central Division: +900
- To make playoffs: Yes -180/ No +150
Player to Watch
Just when it appeared Binnington was on to ceding his job to Ville Husso, the 29-year-old turned in a tremendous performance in the playoffs. Binnington was nearly unbeatable, having surrendered just five goals in three starts against the Minnesota Wild, all Blues’ wins.
Binnington stopped 81 of 85 Avalanche shots over two games, St. Louis pushing the mighty Avalanche to overtime before handing them their first loss in the playoffs. Colorado averaged just two goals per game against St. Louis with Binnington in the net. Then without him, that figure more than doubled to 4.5.
If this version of Binnington remains in goal, St. Louis will be worth every bet online. Who knows? With a healthy Binnington, the Blues may have upset Colorado and perhaps won their second title. So, it is with bated breath that fans watch Binnington return to the ice.
- Player to Watch: G Jordan Binnington
Breakout Player
This may be a copout answer, but Jake Neighbours could be the Blues’ next star. With the team consisting of players already in their prime, and Jordan Kyrou busting out last season, then subsequently awarded a fat contract. Neighbors will look to do the same, as he could have a successful rookie campaign on a line with Brayden Schenn.
Neighbours offers a physical brand of hockey. Even though just 5’11”, Neighbours is a prototypical power forward who hits hard, goes into the corners, and scores the occasional goal. He won’t jump off the sheet stat-wise, but finishing close to 40 points while playing around 11 minutes a game is not unexpected.
- Breakout Watch: LW Jake Neighbours
Blues’ Outlook
The Blues are one of the best teams in the NHL, both 5-on-5 and in their special teams play. St. Louis had nine players score 20+ goals last season. All but one are back.
Some regression is possible. Many of the Blues had higher shooting percentages than their career averages. It’s difficult to see St. Louis falling drastically. If Binnington can also be more stable in net, the Blues could secure a top-four spot in the playoffs.
St. Louis is a dark-horse team to win the Cup. With its core players still in their prime, and Binnington having the ability to take over crucial games, the Blues need to stay healthy and not fatigue down the stretch. Taking that into account, consider them at the online sportsbook.
