Last season, most hockey pundits picked the Blues to finish either third or fourth in the West Division, and they were right. Many picked that positioning based on the strength of the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights; the Blues still have to deal with one of those two teams this year. The Blues also still have to contend with the Minnesota Wild, who finished third in the West last season and who look to contend for a playoff spot again this year.
The Arizona Coyotes have followed the Blues to the Central Division, but they shouldn’t be the issue that they were last season.