Vladimir Tarasenko told the St. Louis Blues he wants to lead them to another level.
After a sixth consecutive playoff appearance without a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, what is the next level for the Blues?
"Winning a Cup?" coach Mike Yeo said.
"Win a Cup, obviously," Tarasenko said.
The championship expectations haven't been lowered in Yeo's first full season as coach after taking over for Ken Hitchcock last February. With Tarasenko, goaltender Jake Allen and captain Alex Pietrangelo in the prime of their careers, the Blues feel like they just have to raise their usually strong regular-season play in the playoffs.