(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

St Louis Blues

2008/09 Record: 41-31-10, 92 points, 6th in West—Swept by Vancouver Canucks in first round

Additions: Ty Conklin—G (2 years/$2.6 mil), Derek Armstrong—F (FA), Brendan Bell—D (FA), Darryl Sydor—(T.C. Invite)

Subtractions: Jay McKee—D (FA), Jeff Woywitka—D (FA), Manny Legace—G (FA), Dan Hinote—F (FA),

The Central Division is by far the toughest division in the NHL.

Not only do you have two of the top teams in the West in the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, but you also three very evenly-matched teams in St. Louis, the Columbus Blue Jackets (who tied with identical records last year), and the Nashville Predators.

As Nashville found out last year, it’s impossible to take a game off and expect to make the playoffs.

Nothing is Brewin’ on the back end this year…

For the Blues, there’s a fair bit of turnover on the back end.

Out is quality low-pairing scoring option Jeff Woywitka, and in his place is former Maple Leaf and Senator Brendan Bell. Bell has great mobility on the back end and offers much of the same assets as Woywitka did, with just a touch more offense and a little more room for improvement.

Then the Blues lost both stay-at-home defenseman Jay McKee through a buyout, and Captain Eric Brewer to injury. While Darryl Sydor won’t replace McKee’s presence or Brewer’s powerful shot or strong frame, he can offer some tutelage to the younger blueliners on this roster (If he makes the team—he's on a training camp invite).

The two that most people think about when they think “young St. Louis Blue blueliners” are Alex Pietrangelo and Erik Johnson—both of whom went in opposite directions last year.

Pietrangelo made the team out of training camp last year and didn’t look out of place at the NHL level. The drawback, though, was that he was kept out of action for six games due to a hit to the head, and eventually returned to Niagara where he registered 29 points in 38 OHL games.

Johnson, meanwhile, suffered through injury concerns of his own, but he wasn’t fortunate enough to get back on the ice in the same season. After tearing his ACL due to “improper use of a golf cart”, Johnson will have to work to get back to where he was before. In the 2007/08 season, Johnson displayed great skating ability and was the point man for the St. Louis powerplay. Although the Blues survived without him last year, a healthy Johnson is a big boost for the Blues.

After being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs last year, Carlo Colaiacovo turned into a go-to defenseman for the Blues, becoming the power play setup man notching 19 assists with the extra man (most likely seeing a boost in those numbers if Johnson returns to form) and averaging big minutes for the team from time-to-time.

Leafs fans had soured on Colaiacovo’s inability to stay healthy, but if he can stay on the ice in St Louis he’ll realize his top-four ability, leaving Leafs' fans to bang their heads of windowns, desks, and frying pans out of frustration.

Along with them, shut-down option extraordinaire Barret Jackman continues to bruise opposing forwards. His offense will always be back and forth, but that’s not what Jackman is paid for—he’s paid for his ability to play sound, smart defensive hockey, and lay the body without remorse.

Roman Polak played his first full year in the NHL last season, and while there were ups (15 points) and downs (-15 rating), Polak will slide in nicely on the lower pairing for the Blues, offering a quiet consistency down low.

There are plenty of other depth options in Missouri like Bryce Lampman, Steve Wagner, and Mike Weaver, but the man worth waiting for is far at the end of the tunnel as Ian Cole should be set to join the Blues’ defense after his final NCAA season.

Conked on the Head, the Mason didn’t know what to do...

The place where the Blues truly lack a star is in the crease.

Once thinking that Marek Schwarz could be that future star, Schwarz left for the Czech league halfway through last season and won't be back, while Ben Bishop is expected to see big minutes in the AHL this season so that he can hone his game and be ready for his next NHL callup.

That leaves Chris Mason and Ty Conklin—two goalies who are very similar.

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