Amanda: Paul, I'm going to say something that might get me banned from the Central Division fan clubs: the Blues are being slept on. Hard.
Paul: Bold statement, Amanda. But you might be right. Let's dig into the power rankings and see if the numbers back you up.
Amanda: Welcome back to Beatline, Blues fans! I'm Amanda, and as always, the sharpest hockey mind in the building, Paul, is right here with me. Today, we're breaking down where St. Louis sits in the Central Division power rankings, the strengths that could carry them, and the questions that keep us up at night.
Paul: We've been talking all week about the offseason moves, the roster battles, and now it's time to put it all together. What does this team actually look like on paper?
Amanda: Exactly. And remember, we predicted a fourth-place finish and a wild card spot back on Friday. Today, we're going to see if that still holds up. Stick with us.
Amanda: Alright, Paul, hit me with the cold, hard truth. Where are the Blues in the Central Division power rankings right now?
Paul: The standings say fifth. But honestly, that feels low. The Central is a gauntlet – you've got the defending champs in Carolina, the always-dangerous Avalanche, the Stars, the Jets... it's stacked.
Amanda: Fifth in the Central. But we said fourth in our predictions. Are we already off track?
Paul: Not necessarily. The gap between fourth and fifth is razor-thin. The Blues have the pieces to jump a team or two, especially with the moves they made this summer.
Amanda: Let's talk about those moves. Connor McMichael signs a six-year, $40.5 million deal – that's a statement. This front office is all-in.
Paul: They're building something. And don't forget Dillon Dube coming in on a free agent deal. That adds depth down the middle.
Amanda: So with that depth, are we looking at a top-four team in the Central, or is fifth where they belong?
Paul: I think they're better than fifth. The top three in the Central are locked – Colorado, Dallas, and Winnipeg are all legitimate contenders. But after that, it's wide open. The Blues can absolutely grab that fourth spot.
Amanda: And what about the teams they're battling – the Predators, the Wild, the Blackhawks? Are they really better?
Paul: Nashville is always tough, but they lost some key pieces. The Wild are in a weird spot – they've got Kaprizov, but their goaltending is a question mark. The Blues have a more complete roster, top to bottom.
Amanda: So you're telling me there's a path to the playoffs? Give me the drum roll, Paul.
Paul: If the goaltending holds up and the young forwards take a step, this team is a wild card team. Easy.
Amanda: Alright, let's get into the nitty-gritty. What are the biggest strengths of this Blues team?
Paul: First and foremost, the forward group. Look at the names: Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Mason McTavish, and now Connor McMichael. That's a top-six that can score with anyone.
Amanda: And the depth – Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, Jimmy Snuggerud – there's real competition for spots. That's a good problem to have.
Paul: Exactly. And on the blue line, you've got Colton Parayko anchoring things, with Cam Fowler and Philip Broberg providing offense. Brandon Carlo adds a shutdown presence.
Amanda: So the strength is the overall roster depth. But what about the biggest question mark? Because there's always one.
Paul: Goaltending. Jordan Binnington is a proven playoff performer, but he's been inconsistent in the regular season. Joel Hofer is a solid backup, but can he handle a bigger workload if needed?
Amanda: That's fair. If Binnington plays like he did in the bubble, this team is dangerous. If he's average, they're fighting for a wild card. But what about the center logjam? We talked about that on Friday.
Paul: Right, we did. With McMichael, Dube, Thomas, and McTavish all capable of playing center, someone's going to have to move to the wing. That's a good problem, but it could also cause some friction.
Amanda: And what about the power play? It was a weakness last year. Can they fix it?
Paul: The addition of McMichael and a healthy Buchnevich should help. But they need to be better at zone entries and getting pucks to the net. That's a coaching emphasis.
Amanda: So the strengths are clear, the questions are real. Let's not forget the defense though – that's a solid group.
Paul: Absolutely. The defense is a strength, especially with the addition of Carlo. That allows Parayko to play big minutes and gives the team a real shutdown pair.
Amanda: Alright, let's move on to the season outlook. Give me your honest projection, Paul.
Amanda: So, Paul, we've been talking about strengths and weaknesses. Now it's time for the big question: what's a realistic season outlook for this Blues team?
Paul: I've been thinking about this all week, and I keep coming back to the same number: 96 points. That should be enough for a wild card spot in the West.
Amanda: 96 points. That's a solid season. But is there a chance they could do more? Could they win the division? Let's be honest, that's a long shot.
Paul: A long shot, yeah. The Avalanche are the class of the division, and the Stars are right there. But the Blues could surprise some people if everything clicks.
Amanda: And what about the goaltending? That's the biggest x-factor. If Binnington returns to form, this team could be scary.
Paul: Exactly. If Binnington plays like he did in the 2019 run, the Blues are a top-three team in the Central. But that's a big 'if'.
Amanda: Let's talk about the next game. They open the season on October 3rd against the Dallas Stars. That's a tough test right out of the gate.
Paul: It's a huge statement game. If they can go into Dallas and steal a win, that sets the tone for the whole season.
Amanda: So what's your final prediction? Are we sticking with our fourth-place finish and wild card spot?
Paul: I'm going to stick with it. I think they finish fourth in the Central and make the playoffs as a wild card. They might even win a round.
Amanda: Bold. I like it. And what about McMichael? You predicted 25 goals. Still feeling good about that?
Paul: Absolutely. He's going to get top-six minutes and power play time. 25 goals is very achievable.
Amanda: Alright, that's our power rankings breakdown. To recap: the Blues are fifth in the Central right now, but we think they can jump to fourth and grab a wild card spot.
Paul: And if you want to hear more about the roster battles and the goaltending situation, check out our episodes from Friday and Saturday.
Amanda: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Beatline. Share this episode with a fellow Blues fan and let them know we're the number one source for Blues talk.
Paul: And as always, Let's Go Blues!