I would like to start off by giving thanks to everyone who have helped me on my way here, shakes and GMG. I would like to try and do semi regular updates regarding the blues and their up and coming prospects. I have not actively cheered for the blues since Gretzky and Hull were lacing them up. I still vividly remember Stevie Y coming across the blue line and ripping a shot to the top corner. It still hurts seeing that highlight knowing that was one of the last few chances Gretzky would get. At that time the blues had a lot of good pieces in place. In ways they were kind of trying to re unite a lot of former oilers to create the same atmosphere. Gretzky, MacTavish, Anderson, Fuhr, Huddy along with Hull, MacInnis, Corson, Courtnall, Pronger. Even after that devastating loss the blues continued to push hard for their first ever stanley cup and got close but were eventually bettered by a guy by the name of Raymond Bourque.

The blues have had their fair share of struggles in the past 7 years but John Davidson has done an amazing job of stock piling talent and building from within. Davidson's success in the first 3 rounds of the draft has been outstanding. To be able to grab guys like Perron, Oshie, Backes and Berglund all in the late 1st or later is outstanding. Its a lot easier to turn a top 10 pick into a top 6 forward, but to be able turn 4 of these guys into significant contributors is shrewd judgment by the management team.

The biggest challenge facing the blues this upcoming season is trying to find which players are going to fit into the top 9 and which players are going onto different pastures. With Tarasenko and Schwartz possibly competing for a roster spot in 1-3 years decisions are going to be made sooner rather than later.

The way i see the blues top 9 shaping up for the start of next year

Oshie/Backes/McDonald
D'Agostini/Berglund/Stewart
Langenbrunner/Arnott/Steen

I feel that the blues will roll with a more 1A/1B lineup rather than having a genuine 1st line. Steen could slide up if there is a couple of injuries or if D'Agostini struggles early on. I dont feel like Langenbrunner or Arnott will challenge the first 2 lines. They were brought in to try and mentor and teach the younger kids the daily rigors of being in the nhl year in and out. I think their presence will do wonders for a kid like Oshie, who at times looks like he has a bit to much fun and not enough focus.

I think its gonna be an exciting season for the blues with a lot of up and downs. I dont feel like this team is a playoff team just quite yet, personally i see them slotting in somewhere between 13th and 10th in the western conference. Im looking forward to following their struggles and success more closely.

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20 team sim keeper leauge
fowards-taveres,callahan,marchand,ryan,ennis, laich,eberle,lieno,nyquist,toffoli,bartschi,puempe l,rnh
defencmen-edler,staal,gilbert,keith,suter,oleksiak,schultz,c lendening,sproul,gragani
goalies-rask, campbell, holtby
16 team h2h keeper league daily lineups g,a,+/,hits,FOW,PIM,PPP,SHP,SO,SOG,W
F-H Sedin,Nash,Selanne,Pavelski,Ott,Kunitz,Roy,Thornto n,Heatley,Lecavalier
D-Edler,Kronwall,Goligoski,Timonen,Campbell,Potter
G-Howard,Vokun
Farm-Petterson,Jarnkrok,Saad,Baberio,Diaz,McNeill,Merri ll,Dekanich,Markstrom,Gallagher

welcome aboard!

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The Ultimate Fantasy Hockey League. (Keep 17)
3C 3LW 3RW 6D 2G 6BE.
G,A,+-,PIM,PPP,SHP,GWG,SOG,FW,HIT; GS,W,L,GAA,SA,SV, SV%,SO
(C) Bergeron, Spezza, Ribeiro, R. O'Reilly
(LW) Ovechkin(RW), Clowe(RW), Hagelin
(RW) Eberle, Stewart
(D) Subban, Pietrangelo, Green, Byfuglien(RW), Bogosian
(G) Crawford, Varlamov, Neuvirth

8 Person Farm:
(C), Couturier, Teravainen
(LW) Kreider
(RW) Etem
(D) Dumba
(G) Holtby, Ramo, Subban

Welcome!

I got my hands on Berglund in a deal last year and I am really excited to see what he does this year.

I am expecting that he takes another step forward and hits 30-30 with a chance at 70 pts if everything falls into place.

Sound about right?

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19 team Dynasty League - POINTS ONLY. Daily starts: 9 fwds, 6 D, 1 goalie

G=2pts, A=1pt, Dman G=3pts, GWG=1pt, Goalie Win=3.5pts, SO=4pts, L=-1pt


Kovalchuk, Couture, Wheeler
Parenteau, Elias, Little
Desharnais, Hemsky, Zuccarello
Smith, Rattie

Karlsson, Letang, Ehrhoff
Carle, Giordano, Martin
Hamhuis

Fleury
Schneider

I think that sounds just about right for Berglund. I don't think you're taking a big risk counting on him to give you 60+ this year, 70 is a stretch though (probably less than 25% chance he makes it there).

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"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

Twitter: @ross10019

CBS Sportsline 14 team H2H keeper (21-man roster, 14 keepers), weekly lineup changes
G, A, PPP, SOG, BS, +/-, GAA, W, SV%
Montreal Maulers - 2011/12 and 2012/13 League Champions
C: Zetterberg/Getzlaf/Granlund/Roy/Desharnais
W: Hossa/Gaborik/Moulson/Marleau/Fleischmann/Horton/Brown/Baertschi(IR)
D: Markov/Karlsson(IR)/Letang/Byfuglien/McDonagh/Tyutin/Spurgeon
G: Lundqvist/Hiller/Brodeur

The Blues are actually one of my favourite teams to watch, found myself checking out a lot of their games near the end of last year. Definitely a bright future ahead with a lot of those young stars.

I'm glad you see that is the starting 9, that's exactly who I had penciled into each line as well. I think you're right about the 1A/1B concept, as I think its time for Berglund/Stewart to be getting more opportunities to shine.

Glad to have someone to talk the Blues with!

Edit: Based on their PP lines last year, I'm thinking something along the lines of

Mcdonald-Berglund-Stewart + Pietrangelo-Shattenkirk --> This was an absolutely filthy PP. They worked really well with Berglund at the half boards and Stewart in front of the net.
Steen-Oshie-Backes with Arnott manning the point + Coliacovo

Unfortunately I think D'Agostini gets boned here again lol.

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@B0ndon

Goalies: If I'm pickin em you best be sittin em!

Welcome aboard Diamondback!

I actually see St Louis being much more competitive than 10th to 13th this year, despite the brutal competition in the West.

Their forward corps is really deep and now there's a ton more leadership with Arnott, Langenbrunner and (underrated signing) Nichol coming aboard, and there was already lots of leadership with Steen and Backes. Besides the top 9 you mentioned, which would be bolstered SIGNIFICANTLY if Perron returns healthy at some point next season, they've got a very gritty 4th line anchored by Crombeen and Nichol.

Their goaltending is just fine, Halak is a gamer and should keep them in most games and steal more than his fair share when the team hasn't brought its A game.

Their D is young but pretty damn solid. Offensively they have two of the most dynamic young offensive Dmen in the league in Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo, and Pietrangelo also brings size (6'3 205) and underrated two-way play. Then they have the vets with experience in Jackman and Huskins, who also brings size (6'4). Plus they have another offensive Dman with good skating and puckmoving ability and underrated grit factor in Colaiacovo (although he is maddeningly injury-prone). And finally you throw Polak into the mix, who is coming into his own as a stay at home dman.

With a lineup like this, if they can avoid the just BRUTAL injuries that impacted them last year, they should be battling teams like Nashville for the 7th or 8th spots. They should easily finish ahead of Colorado and Edmonton, and my bet is that they finish ahead of Dallas, Minnesota, Phoenix and Calgary too.

My prediction, StLouis breaks through and finishes 8th and, with their roster including a few more Stanley Cup champions, presents a very tough first round opponent for Vancouver or San Jose in the West.

UPDATE: It's a longshot, but worthwhile mentioning the Cheechoo signing too. If he can return anywhere near his previous form, that's a big bonus too. Doubt it but you never know.

__________________

"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

Twitter: @ross10019

CBS Sportsline 14 team H2H keeper (21-man roster, 14 keepers), weekly lineup changes
G, A, PPP, SOG, BS, +/-, GAA, W, SV%
Montreal Maulers - 2011/12 and 2012/13 League Champions
C: Zetterberg/Getzlaf/Granlund/Roy/Desharnais
W: Hossa/Gaborik/Moulson/Marleau/Fleischmann/Horton/Brown/Baertschi(IR)
D: Markov/Karlsson(IR)/Letang/Byfuglien/McDonagh/Tyutin/Spurgeon
G: Lundqvist/Hiller/Brodeur

The Blues seem to be on the verge of some good things. They're waiting, and have done a pretty good job being patient, for someone to step up and lead. Whether this comes from within (perhaps imminently) or whether they are able to land their own version of Richards/Carter the next time one comes available, waits to be seen. Their drafting has been excellent in recent years, so they can hope for the growth from within. It also means they have some trading power. They don't have the good luck with the high profile UFAs selecting them as a destination. To add that 80-90 point front man, would do a world of good for them, and hockey in St. Louis and push them over the top.

I really like the Arnott/Langenbrunner signings. This duo should add numerous elements to the team - off ice preparation, dealing with stress, game preparation, handling ones self in public, practise habits... not every day you add two former Stanley Cup winners and two players who have captained highly respected franchises. Oh, and they should still be assets when on the ice.

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Best One Moment Wonders
Darryl Sittler (10 point game)
Tom Bladon (8 point game - blueliner)
Sam Gagner (8 point game)
Al Hill (5 points in 1st NHL game)
Brian Boucher (5 consecutive SO)
Ian Turnbull (5 goal game)
Stastny Brothers (16 point game)

Nice to have you following a team, db87...

I'm a huge fan of the Blues' roster, obviously Berglund, Oshie, Stewart, Shatts, Pietrangelo are all exciting players - I am also wondering what you think of another highly touted youngster - V Tarasenko. The Blues F corps is deep, and they have no need to rush him - he has expressed that his only desire is to play in the NHL, but of course there always remains some KHL threat. IMO he needs at least 1 yr in the AHL to get a feel for the N. American game, but by all accounts this guy is already close to ready...

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16 Tm Dynasty,DailyH2H
3C,6W,4D,1G;G,A,PIM,+/-,STP,SOG,Hits,FOW,W,SO,GA,S
C-Kopitar,Carter,Zajac,Bailey
W-Perry,Parise,Neal,Oshie,JvR,Clarkson,M.Foligno,Sil vferberg,Chiasson
D-Yandle,J.Johnson,Carlson,Nikitin,Dillon,Barrie
G-Ward,Bernier
Fm-Holland,Shore,Pulkkinen,Teravainen,Jensen,Rundblad,Morrow,Barber io,Krug

10 Tm-8F,4D,2G Weekly
F-Stamkos,MSL,E.Staal,Toews,Seguin,Duchene,E.Kane,St epan,J.Staal,Brown,Silfverberg,Johansen
D-Keith,Seabrook,Voynov,Bogo,Wideman,Fowler
G-Price,Rask,Dubnyk
Fm-Tarasenko,Scheifele,Atkinson,Faksa,Smith,Orlov,Rie lly,Trouba,Markstrom

I feel that Berglund really came into a zone in the second half of the season last year. He registered 31 points in his last 39 games. That averages out to .79 pts per game or roughly 65pts through an entire year.

I feel that your expectations are dead on. He should hit anywhere from 55-65pts but more likely he will probably get around 25g/35a. With Stewart now having a full year there I think that Berglund's totals should increase but not to dramatically yet. 70pts isnt out of the question for me one day but Berglund is going to have to get a lot better in his consistency and putting up pts night in and night out for that to happen.

__________________
20 team sim keeper leauge
fowards-taveres,callahan,marchand,ryan,ennis, laich,eberle,lieno,nyquist,toffoli,bartschi,puempe l,rnh
defencmen-edler,staal,gilbert,keith,suter,oleksiak,schultz,c lendening,sproul,gragani
goalies-rask, campbell, holtby
16 team h2h keeper league daily lineups g,a,+/,hits,FOW,PIM,PPP,SHP,SO,SOG,W
F-H Sedin,Nash,Selanne,Pavelski,Ott,Kunitz,Roy,Thornto n,Heatley,Lecavalier
D-Edler,Kronwall,Goligoski,Timonen,Campbell,Potter
G-Howard,Vokun
Farm-Petterson,Jarnkrok,Saad,Baberio,Diaz,McNeill,Merri ll,Dekanich,Markstrom,Gallagher

Welcome aboard. Always good to see another team covered.