Fantasy: 5 players to target on the St. Louis Blues
With your fantasy draft just around the corner, theScore's Ian McLaren and Darren Kritzer take a look at five players you should consider drafting this season.
Top Targets
Paul Stastny
The St. Louis Blues needed help up the middle and went after one of the top free agents this offseason, signing the 28-year-old center to a four-year deal worth $28 million. Last season, Stastny recorded 25 goals – the most he's scored since his rookie season when he had 28 in 2006-07. His points-per-game average of 0.85 was his best since 2009-10 when he had a 0.98 average and his 16.7 shooting percentage was the second best of his career.
Players entering their free agent year tend to have good offensive numbers in hopes of that free-agent payday, which is sometimes followed by a disappointment the next year in fantasy, but don't expect a drop off from the former second-round pick in 2005. Playing on the top line with Alexander Steen and T.J. Oshie will only help his value. Consider taking him early in the third round.
Proceed With Caution
Brian Elliott
The Blues decided to give Ryan Miller a chance, acquiring the now Vancouver Canucks netminder, from the Buffalo Sabres just before the trade deadline, but things didn't work out.
It's now time for Elliott and Jake Allen to prove who should be No. 1, and for now, it appears Elliott has the upper hand.
The 29-year-old has never played more than 55 games in a season, but did show promise last season, recording 18 wins in 31 games with a 1.96 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.
Elliott has played in the shadow of Miller and Jaroslav Halak the last few seasons in St. Louis, but his 55-24-7 record over that time has shown management he's ready to carry the load going forward.
Alexander Steen
If you believe Steen will score 33 goals again this season, you would have to consider him early in your draft, but it's hard to imagine he will repeat on the career season he had one year ago.
Steen was rewarded by the Blues with a three-year, $17.4 million deal for his overall play last year, but he couldn't match his first half tear when he scored 20 goals in his first 25 games, recording just five in his final 20.
Steen is projected to play on the top line, but with the Blues' forward depth so deep, he could find his way on the third line if he struggles. In roto leagues, his 211 shots are a bonus, as well as his 17 power-play points. Don't forget he missed 11 games with a concussion in the middle of the season.
Consider him a risky early pick, but a solid late addition.
Vladimir Tarasenko
If Tarasenko can stay healthy, we should see more of these types of highlights on a weekly basis.
Tarasenko played in only 64 games last season after undergoing hand surgery in March. He ended his year with 21 goals and 22 asissts, which at the time of the injury, ranked him sixth on the team along with a plus-20 rating – tied for 23rd among all forwards.
He's worth the gamble in the middle rounds of your draft.
Take A Flier On
Jori Lehtera
Lehtera, who scored in his first preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing on a line with Tarasenko and Peter Mueller is a nice sleeper pick near the end of your draft.
The Blues signed the forward to a two-year contract this summer after he played the last three seasons in the KHL.
In 48 games for Novosibirsk last year, the former Blues' draft pick in 2008 scored 12 goals and added 32 assists.