Can Utah Beat Blues For Playoff Spot?

[TBone]

Disclaimer: The video above is hosted on Youtube, and has not be reviewed by the staff of the Post-Dispatch.

[STL fan in MN]

Didn’t watch the video but the obvious answer is, yes, they can. IMO, there’s 6 teams in the Central that could very well make the playoffs - Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado, St. Louis, Minnesota and Utah. Perhaps Nashville will be better than last season but I expect them to still be bad. Chicago is clearly purposely being bad for at least 1 more year. In another year or two as their youth gains experience, I expect Chicago to make some trades and add some UFAs to become competitive again. But for now, I think they’re purposely tanking one more year as the top of the 2026 draft is looking pretty loaded.

Obviously, the max a division can sent to the playoffs is 5 so at least one of the top 6 teams in the Central won’t make it. As of today, I’d project Utah to be that 6th team, but it’s close. Maybe their goalies play better than expected. Maybe Cooley and Keller take another step. Maybe teams like the Blues, Wild etc wildly underperform or get hit hard with the injury bug. You never really know how the season will play out.

[dhsux]

Utah may well get in but not at the Blues expense, imo.

I can't tell you who's going to win this division...can't even tell you who should.

I see this division beating each other up in the majority of games and the lines between the top 4-5 teams will not be so apparent.

As for the Blues they pick up where they left off.....on the rise....and in the thick of things.....another likely late strong finish....and NOT fighting for that last spot.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

The one of those 6 teams that comes out of the gate slow is gonna be in trouble. Teams like the Blues and others, can’t count on a run like we went on at the end of last season. I believe Calgary also went on a heater in the Pacific.

Could be way off, but I see the two wildcard spots coming down to the Blues, Avs and Utah. The team that stumbles the hardest at some point during the season will be cooked.

[DawgDad]

Sire, they could. The Blues could win the Division, too, bit they probably won't. Here's what I posted the other day:

Things that need to happen for a 100+ point season:
1. Thomas stays healthy
2. Holloway returns to form.
3. Buchnevich rebounds as a complete forward.
4. Suter and Schenn have solid (if unspectacular) seasons.
5. Snuggerud is for real.
6. Binner and Hofer hold serve.
7. The veteran defensemen do it one more time.
8. The 4th line works without Faksa.
9. The team plays like a team out of camp.
10. They figure out how to kill penalties and close out games.

If all that pretty much happens the Blues will be a force to contend with.

[dr0zombie]

I have not watched the video yet. This has been a teased narrative all summer. Will Utah be in the playoffs? Yes. I think people have the narrative wrong. It is Minnesota that Utah will be replacing this year. Minnesota has done the least of the teams involved to keep up, or mature from within. The reliance that Kaprizov becomes top five elite is expecting too much out of a very good player. I feel this is the year both Winnipeg and Minnesota move to bubble/out of contention teams.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Blues historically get in something like 84 percent of the time with last years numbers. It might even be higher. I did a post about it a while ago but I believe thats in the range of where that fell. If the Blues are about the same level they were last year or a tick better, it won't be the Blues that Utah knocks out. It will be someone who slipped a little bit based off injury or a slumping year.

The West is clearly better than the East.

[Harry S Deals]

Sire, they could. The Blues could win the Division, too, bit they probably won't. Here's what I posted the other day:

Things that need to happen for a 100+ point season:
1. Thomas stays healthy
2. Holloway returns to form.
3. Buchnevich rebounds as a complete forward.
4. Suter and Schenn have solid (if unspectacular) seasons.
5. Snuggerud is for real.
6. Binner and Hofer hold serve.
7. The veteran defensemen do it one more time.
8. The 4th line works without Faksa.
9. The team plays like a team out of camp.
10. They figure out how to kill penalties and close out games.

If all that pretty much happens the Blues will be a force to contend with.

Fairly solid breakdown, if the Blues can carry the last 30 games of '24-'25 into next season the Blues will be a handful. I think Monty is going to make a big difference here for awhile

[callitwhatyouwant]

Sire, they could. The Blues could win the Division, too, bit they probably won't. Here's what I posted the other day:

Things that need to happen for a 100+ point season:
1. Thomas stays healthy
2. Holloway returns to form.
3. Buchnevich rebounds as a complete forward.
4. Suter and Schenn have solid (if unspectacular) seasons.
5. Snuggerud is for real.
6. Binner and Hofer hold serve.
7. The veteran defensemen do it one more time.
8. The 4th line works without Faksa.
9. The team plays like a team out of camp.
10. They figure out how to kill penalties and close out games.

If all that pretty much happens the Blues will be a force to contend with.

Fairly solid breakdown, if the Blues can carry the last 30 games of '24-'25 into next season the Blues will be a handful. I think Monty is going to make a big difference here for awhile

I think the last couple points are pivotal. I think this team can have a better 4th line than last year, or maybe more talented 3rd and 4th combo than last year. But a couple players need to buy into being the 1st group up on the PK and 6on5. Need to take the load off our best players. Guys like Kapanen held that role pretty solidly.

[Tabasco Flowers]

The West is clearly better than the East.

Only if you discount Florida.

[Harry York 37]

Snuggerud is the biggest Wild Card. He looked great (mostly) up with the big team. He was on a vengeance high from getting bounced late in the NCAA Finals , again.

He has a lot going for him, but this year folks will come gunning for him, so he was extra sharp to quick-build a dozen pounds of muscle mass.
He is a reason why having a healthy and sober and healed up Lucic on the roster- with a giant Serbian chip on his shoulder- might be prudemt. It would to help protect him from the worst of the thugs in the NHL.

[hockey jedi]

Sire, they could. The Blues could win the Division, too, bit they probably won't. Here's what I posted the other day:

Things that need to happen for a 100+ point season:
1. Thomas stays healthy
2. Holloway returns to form.
3. Buchnevich rebounds as a complete forward.
4. Suter and Schenn have solid (if unspectacular) seasons.
5. Snuggerud is for real.
6. Binner and Hofer hold serve.
7. The veteran defensemen do it one more time.
8. The 4th line works without Faksa.
9. The team plays like a team out of camp.
10. They figure out how to kill penalties and close out games.

If all that pretty much happens the Blues will be a force to contend with.

Sire, my king, you are spot on!!!

[LGB73]

Central should be fun to watch. I could imagine scenarios where the Blues are on the outside looking in but I think it unlikely unless injuries pile up to key players. I'm not a big believer that momentum or chemistry automatically carryover or can be built upon season to season. Each season is unique and can see teams/lines/players build upon or fall short of what they did the previous.

[dhsux]

Sire, they could. The Blues could win the Division, too, bit they probably won't. Here's what I posted the other day:

Things that need to happen for a 100+ point season:
1. Thomas stays healthy
2. Holloway returns to form.
3. Buchnevich rebounds as a complete forward.
4. Suter and Schenn have solid (if unspectacular) seasons.
5. Snuggerud is for real.
6. Binner and Hofer hold serve.
7. The veteran defensemen do it one more time.
8. The 4th line works without Faksa.
9. The team plays like a team out of camp.
10. They figure out how to kill penalties and close out games.

If all that pretty much happens the Blues will be a force to contend with.

There's a ton of different ways the Blues can close this year pushing 100 points.

Hell they were 3 away from that last year! without having a first half of decent play and without RT for 20 games and with Holloway in form but learning and with Buch playing poorly and with no snuggerud and with a poor pk and horrid 6/5 defense and closing out games!!!

I've got them at one hundred points BECAUSE of last years play not in spite of it.

[TAFKAP]

I think Colorado is seriously overrated. They haven't won squat since 2022 and every move they've made since has been a downgrade. Couldn't happen to a more deserving fanbase, but, neither of their goalies have a career avg of .900 in the playoffs. Both had their best season in years last year. Will it last? I think Colorado is in for dark times. Hopefully.

[HighStick]

I can see the Blues coming on strong for the season. Monty has a great regular season record.

No idea where they end up in the PO's. Hopefully at least the 2nd round.