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Dallas Stars: 6 teams that will make the playoffs after missing them in 2017-18

By Avery Klatsky

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 06: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his goal in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at American Airlines Center on January 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 06: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his goal in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at American Airlines Center on January 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 18: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Scottrade Center on October 18, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 18: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Scottrade Center on October 18, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

2. St. Louis Blues

Sitting at second on the list is a team I’ve talked about a lot — St. Louis.

The Blues season ended in heartbreak last year, as they lost in their final regular season game to come up one point short (94, to be exact) of a playoff spot behind the Colorado Avalanche, who stole the second wild-card spot in the West.

St. Louis, however, did a complete overhaul in their lineup, and arguably had the most activity in the league. Here is a recap of their major transactions since the offseason started.

Related Story. NHL: These Three Teams are Winning the Offseason. light

  • Signed LW David Perron to a four-year deal
  • Signed G Chad Johnson to a one-year deal
  • Re-signed C Robby Fabbri, LW MacKenzie MacEachern, C Oskar Sundqvist, RW Dmitrij Jaskin, and G Jordan Binnington, and D Joel Edmundson to one-year deals
  • Signed draft pick Dominik Bokk (25th overall) to a three-year, entry-level deal
  • Traded C Tage Thompson, LW Vladimir Sobotka, C Patrik Berglund, a 2019 1st round and 2021 2nd round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for C Ryan O’Reilly
  • Signed C Tyler Bozak to a three-year deal
  • Extended RW Nikita Shoshnikov (one-year)
  • Signed C Jordan Nolan and D Tyler Wotherspoon to one-year deals

Even though the Blues finished last season with a bad taste in their mouths, their many additions and changes in the locker room could be a sign of hope for the future. It’s not a re-build for St. Louis, but rather a re-load. Below is a look at St. Louis’ roster.

Offense

Steen-O’Reilly-Tarasenko

Schwartz-Schenn-Perron

Maroon-Bozak-Soshnikov

Jaskin-Fabbri-Thorburn

Extras: Barbashev, Sundqvist, Nolan

Defense

Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo

Edmundson-Parayko

Gunnarsson-Bortuzzo

Extras: Dunn, Schmaltz

Goalies

Allen

Johnson

Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, and Brayden Schenn are great — but if your team lacks depth, you aren’t going to get very far in the NHL; especially in the Central Division.

However, had the Blues won their last game of the season, this would be a different story, and I’d probably substitute the Colorado Avalanche into this article instead.

St. Louis’ stout defensive play is stellar to watch, especially in the playoffs, where a solid blue line can save a team from elimination.

Now, by adding O’Reilly, Perron, and Bozak, it would be tough to argue against the Blues as one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference.

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