Ugh. Why.

That’s how I feel about the St. Louis Blues. And now that that’s out of the way.

The St. Louis Blues faced their demons against Chicago in the first round, defeating the defending champions in seven games. They then took their game to Dallas, defeating the Western Conference regular season champions in six, before finally running face first into the wall that was San Jose before the Stanley Cup.

The Blues proved that the team has what it takes to win the playoffs against the toughest division in hockey, but proved at the same time that they don’t have what it takes to win it all. The Blues are a gritty, defensive minded team, and that doesn’t look to be changing.

Bringing back coach Ken Hitchcock for next season and Mike Yeo as the replacement the year after, the Blues will remain a defensive force, one that will take away more goals than it will score. But how long will that remain a successful strategy?

Listed here are ways the Blues can improve themselves. Many are suggestions that will not be taken, and some are things already in process. But it’s important to give each team an optimistic view. Even the ones we hate.

1. Youth

The Blues are a team in urgent demand of younger players, especially offensively. The current Blues core has many members over 27, and are having players past their primes or currently passing their primes. The Blues window with this current roster is closing, and the Blues need better energy and speed if they are going to be competitive in an improving Central division next year.

Unfortunately, it does not look like this youth movement will come from their AHL ranks, where they lack a truly elite (or even great) forward and should rely more upon the young players already brought up like Tarasenko and Fabbri.

Therefore, the Blues should be willing to part ways with their elder veterans in order to clear some space to get younger. Now, while this list of eligible trades should not include players like Steen and Stastny, players like Shattenkirk (already rumored to be on the trade block), Reaves, and Berglund, if they bring the right return, should be considered as options.

2. Offensive Strategy

The turtle does not work. It did not work when the Blues attempted it, it did not work when it was attempted against the Blues. And it’s the offensive strategy the Blues rely on at points, and did rely on throughout the playoffs.

The Blues need to get strategically sound, especially offensively, if they want to give the Blackhawks a run for their money again, and if they want to be able to push past not only Chicago but the rest of the Western Conference as well.

The Penguins showed resting upon your defense will not be a safe strategy for much longer, and as the strategy gets replayed, redone, and remixed, the Blues will become less and less successful unless they change with the times.

Keeping Ken Hitchcock on as coach is the Blues committing to the same offensive strategy that lost them the Western Conference Finals. The Blackhawks will be a better team next year. The Stars will be a better team next year. And both figured out the Blues strategy after coming face to face with it, and will be prepared for it.

The Blues offense must improve if St. Louis is going to be more successful. The ability is there. Are the ideas?

3/4/5/6. Depth/Extensions/Goaltending/Drafting

I’m tired of the same three and four priorities so I’m going to rattle off the classics very quickly so we can end this article.

The Blues need depth offensively. This goes with the offensive strategy, but two checking lines (let alone four) does not cut it anymore. The Blues need to get faster younger and just plain better on lines three and four to compete again. They gotta have more production from all four lines going forward. This is no longer a three line sport.

The Blues need to re-sign some important players like Colton Parayko, Jake Allen, Brian Elliott, Kevin Shattenkirk (if he’s not traded), Troy Brouwer, David Backes, Jaden Schwartz, and Alexander Steen within the next two years. Backes, Brouwer and Schwartz are all free agents this year, and must be considered for extensions. While some of this argument runs counter to my depth argument (namely Backes, Brouwer, and Steen) each of these players were important not only to the Blues regular season success but came in clutch for the Blues in the playoffs as well. The other two lines can get younger. Oh, and by the way, Parayko should be paid like the true #1 defenseman he will be.

Speaking of Brian Elliott and Jake Allen, those two will both be up for extensions next year. It’s time to make a decision on who the starter from here on out will be, because Brian Elliott, if he knows that it’s not him, will leave in UFA to be a starter somewhere else, and the Blues should trade him now if they believe their better option is to go with Jake Allen going into the future instead of letting Elliott walk without getting compensation. I now understand it’s “hard” to make trades in this league, but an Elliott trade is something that could potentially benefit both sides.

Blues are another team that’s gotta draft well in the coming years to ensure a successful future. Gotta win Tarasenko a ring.