Grading the 2017-18 St. Louis Blues

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues' season came to an end on Saturday, the final day of the regular season for 29 of the 31 teams, with a 44-32-6 record, which was good for 94 points.

But that record and point total was one off what was needed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this, the Blues are on the outside looking in for the first time since the 2010-11 season, snapping a streak of six straight postseason qualifiers.

It was quite the roller coaster ride for the Blues, who got off to a tremendous start, winning 21 of their first 31 games (21-8-2), before a seven-game losing streak (0-6-1) from Feb. 11-27 ultimately put them in survival mode in a fight for the playoffs. They also went on a six-game winning streak and gave themselves a chance despite a season full of key injuries and at times, a lack of scoring for a team that averaged just over 2.5 goals per game for nearly the final 2/3 of the season.

With the 2017-18 season now complete, here are my grades for the season on players, coaches and management:

SKATERS
Forwards:
Ivan Barbashev -- This was Barbashev's second season, but in reality, it was his first "full" season despite playing in only 53 games. Barbashev played well during his 30 games as a rookie with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) but to me, regressed offensively with 13 points (seven goals, six assists). The 22-year-old is still raw in many areas. He would show flashes in games that he can be an impact player, one that I think can reach the potential of top-9 forward. His goal against San Jose on was a snipe. The Blues used Barbashev in a number of roles, moving him up and down the lineup, and looking at the big picture, his play was too inconsistent often on both sides of the puck. The Blues will need to see a notable improvement next season if he is in the long-term plans for this team moving forward.
My grade: C

Patrik Berglund -- Boy oh boy, where do we go with the 'Big Swede,' who missed the first 24 games of the season after offseason shoulder surgery. The longest-tenured Blue, who was scratched one game on Feb. 28 because of poor play and a lack of confidence, made an impact down the stretch helping give the Blues a fighting chance at making the playoffs when he finished with 12 points (nine goals, three assists) in the final 15 games. But Berglund finished with just 26 points (17 goals, nine assists) in 57 games. The 10-year veteran was used in a variety of ways, primarily playing on the second and third lines. Had it not been for a strong finish to the season, he would have received one of the more disappointing grades. But this what's so frustrating about Berglund because of his streaky in play that frustrates Blues fans. Berglund claimed lack confidence around the time be was scratched, which is unusual for a veteran player, and one who got a $19.25 million extension needs to produce more than what the Blues got. I wouldn't be surprised to see GM Doug Armstrong shop the veteran this summer. But if he returns, more consistency will be needed, and expected. 
My grade: C

Kyle Brodziak -- This may have been Brodziak's most complete season of his 13-year career. Not only did Brodziak tie a career-high in assists (23, also done in 2009-10 with the Minnesota Wild), but he did everything asked if him when the chips were down with this hockey team. The 33-year-old started as the fourth-line center and finished as the No. 2 center after the Blues traded Paul Stastny to Winnipeg on Feb. 26. Of Brodziak's 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) this season, 13 of them (one goal, 12 assists) came in the final 19 games, including nine of them (all assists) in the final 11 games. Brodziak had more shots on goal (113) this season than the last two seasons combined (104) and finished plus-13, which is a career-high. Brodziak is a faceoff specialist, finishing with a career-best 52.12 percent, a top-notch penalty killer and when asked to step into the role of top-6 forward, Brodziak did so seamlessly, and all for $950,000, which may have been one of the most valued contracts for the Blues, who got more than their bang for the buck here. Brodziak is an unrestricted free agent and the Blues would be wise to bring him back as a fourth-line center, assuming they fill some top-six holes.
My grade: A

Robby Fabbri -- Fabbri's season, which would have been his third, was cut short after just one preseason game in Washington, after he tore the left ACL in his knee a second time. The 22-year-old restricted free agent to-be is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp in September. But as far as a new contract goes, this injury negates any leverage he anticipated at this time.
My grade: incomplete

Dmitrij Jaskin -- When the Blues drafted Jaskin in 2011, he was projected to be the big power forward they were craving at the time. But Jaskin has proved he's nothing more than to be, at best, a fourth line checking forward with a penchant for the occasional goal/assist. Yes, Jaskin did play in a career-high 76 games this season, finishing with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists). The 17 points are one off a career-high 18 he set his first full season in 2014-15 when Jaskin scored 13 goals. But since scoring those 13 goals in 54 games, Jaskin has just 11 in the 192 regular-season games since. Another forward the Blues tried using in all roles, and yes, Jaskin did show at times he can work hard and he a puck hunter, but those kinds of players are a dime a dozen. The game is faster and he lacks the speed to make an impact as a top-line forward. A restricted free agent, the Blues are going to have to take a long look whether Jaskin is worth keeping or not. I say he's replaceable.
My grade: C-

Brayden Schenn -- Schenn was a major upgrade for an offensively-challenged team this season after the Blues acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers at last year's NHL Draft in Chicago. Not only did Schenn play in all 82 games for the third time in his seven full seasons, but he set career highs in goals (28) assists (42) and points (70); his 70 points were tops on the team. Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko was one of the more potent lines in the early part of the season terrorizing opponents as a top line should. His lead-by-example did not go unnoticed in the Blues' locker room and his chemistry with Schwartz is worth making a staple moving forward. Schenn could still use some improving on his faceoff percentage (48.03 percent) despite setting a career high. Schenn's power-play points took a dip this season (from 28 last season in Philadelphia to 19 this season) but so did everyone else's. He also had career-highs in game-winning goals (eight) and shots (210). I would call it a terrific season in his first full one as a Blue and will be a part of the future plans in a prominent role moving forward. A solid acquisition.
My grade: A+

Jaden Schwartz -- Pound for pound, may be the toughest, hardest working player on the team. Any time I talk to someone from the opposition, the respect is so high for Schwartz that opponents hate playing against him. That's respect. Schwartz combines hard work with offensive ability of a high-end two-way top-six forward. His 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in just 62 games would have been bigger had he not missed to games with a fracture to his right ankle blocking a shot Dec. 9 in Detroit. If you want to call on a puck hound, Schwartz is your guy. If the Blues need to retrieve the puck anywhere on the ice, Schwartz will be first in line to accomplish the feat. He's a top penalty killer on the team and is involved on the top power-play unit that underachieved this season. But Schwartz's all-around game will suit the Blues going into the future and evidenced by his play Saturday in Colorado, he did all he could to help this team try to get into the playoffs. Schwartz is a big piece of the future.
My grade: A+

Vladimir Sobotka -- When the Blues brought Sobotka back, at the time, it was a good sign to be getting the 'Little Ball of Hate' back. When Sobotka last played a full season in the NHL (2013-14) before departing for three seasons to the KHL, he was another pound-for-pound player opponents hated because of his effective physical play despite his smaller stature (5-foot-10). Although Sobotka notched a career-high 11 goals in 81 games to go with his 20 assists, his season was much like the rest of the team, up and down. Early in the season, he was used in a top-six role and actually played well, but somewhere between Omsk, Russia and St. Louis, he lost a good portion of his physical edge and took ill-timed penalties that cost the Blues. His faceoff percentage (54.25 percent) is still effective, although he wasn't used as often in the circle, and Sobotka is still an effective defensive forward, but his first full season back after the KHL wasn't bad but it wasn't as strong either. He could be a candidate for trade this summer. But if he's back, the pre-KHL Sobotka is a very effective one, one the Blues would like back.
My grade: C+

Nikita Soshnikov -- Soshnikov was acquired Feb. 15 from the Toronto Maple Leafs and played in just 12 games for the Blues and scored a goal and had an assist. Mainly used as a third- or fourth-line winger, Soshnikov displayed his speed and was effective in his limited time with the Blues. It will be interesting to see what they do with him moving forward, because he has the ability to play a third-line role if used in the right situations and with the right people. People in Toronto told me at the time he has the tools but ran out of time with the Leafs in an injury-prone career there. His speed is a vital asset.
My grade: incomplete

Alexander Steen -- When it comes to effort, there's not much debate to Steen's game. He gives it his all each and every time he plays. But Steen just turned 34 on March 1 and it's become evident that the game is catching up to him. With 898 career regular-season games and 61 postseason games, the player asked to perform in all aspects and execute effectively has taken a hit. His offensive game isn't quite what it once was, finishing with 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) in 76 games. The 15 goals matches a career-low for a full NHL season. Steen's point total has slipped in each of the past three seasons, falling by five from a season ago. Steen also was used in a top-six role with the Blues challenged with top-six players; he played power play and was an effective penalty killer as well. There's never a time when you can call Steen a lazy player. He gave his best at all times, but it's become clear he's more a third-line forward, and at three more years and a $5.75 million cap hit, that's a lot of dough, and one has to wonder how much more Steen has in the tank or if the Blues look to move him in the offseason. Stay tuned to this one.
My grade: B-

Nolan Stevens -- Stevens, the son of Los Angeles Kings coach John Stevens, signed a two-year entry-level contract after his college season at Northeastern University ended March 25 and did not dress in a game for the Blues this season.
My grade: incomplete

Oskar Sundqvist -- When the Blues acquired Sundqvist from the Pittsburgh Penguins also on the first day of the 2017 NHL Draft, he was an unknown commodity. But for Sundqvist, who can become a restricted free agent July 1, played in a career-high 46 games for the Blues this season and recorded a goal and four assists. The four assists and five points are a career-high. But my takeaway on Sundqvist is he tries each and every time he's on the ice. He's nothing more than a depth fourth-line center who can slot into a lineup when the schedule gets demanding or a player needs rest. He's not going to be much offensively but Sundqvist will skate hard and give it his best. However, he's not much more than a depth guy moving forward, should the Blues choose to hang onto him. My feeling is there are enough of these players in the system.
My grade: C

Vladimir Tarasenko -- As mentioned above, Tarasenko, Schwartz and Schenn began the season as one of the potent lines in all of hockey, and Tarasenko was benefitting quite nicely with 28 points in 24 games to begin the season. But over his last 56 games, Tarasenko had just 38 points and finished with 33 goals and 33 assists, which are below the numbers I feel he should get. Tarasenko did injure his left shoulder in the season finale and had surgery Wednesday and will miss 4-6 months. Tarasenko played in 80 games and the 33 goals are a solid season for many, but he is supposed to be the game-changer on this team and as the player earning the highest salary on the team, more was expected from him. I projected Tarasenko to be the next 50-goal scorer in this league after Alex Ovechkin and after scoring a career-high 40 in 2014-15, he's slipped to 39 last season and 33 this season and at 26, that's not the direction I expected him to go. He took more shots this season (306) than any other and after 286 last season, scored six fewer goals and his shooting percentage slipped to the lowest (10.8 percent) since his first season of the lockout year of 2012-13. He'd show some signs of backchecking and being responsible defensively but there were times when he would not be effective on that side of the puck and that's where you become respected from your teammates when you are responsible defensively, especially when the puck wasn't going in on the other end. His 33 goals led the team and he was second in points behind Schenn, but a more can be and should be had from him moving forward.
My grade: B

Tage Thompson -- The rookie found out the hard way that the NHL is no picnic. But I believe that in the end, Thompson will use this first, trying season as one that will benefit him in the long run. Thompson shows you those flashes of a terrific wrister that with time, he'll be able to get off effectively and put in the net more so than the three times he did in 41 games this season; he finished with nine points. Thompson was mainly used as a third-line winger who was taught some hard lessons at times on what it is going to take to make it to the NHL. I like the potential there but potential can only get you so far. Thompson could never be faulted for lack of effort, but this is a business and at times, he looked overwhelmed, which is natural for a 19-, 20-year-old.
My grade: C+

Chris Thorburn -- I didn't know a whole lot about Thorburn before he came to the Blues but quickly found out he's a locker room favorite and performs his role well. Thorburn knows at 34, his role is to be a fourth-line forward that provides energy, physicality and brunt and play anywhere from 7-10 minutes a night. I gained a whole level of respect for Thorburn, who the Blues signed to a two-year contract last summer, after he was waived on Feb. 25 and probably played his best hockey after that. Many veterans in his shoes could have folded shop, asked to be moved, released, whatever, in light of basically being offered for nothing on waivers. But Thorburn, who finished with a goal and six assists in 50 games, was a well-respected leader that got the attention of his teammates when he spoke. He understands where his career is and did everything asked, even if those on the outside didn't think was much.
My grade: B

Scottie Upshall -- Upshall's season was cut short to due to a pair of injuries, one a MCL knee sprain on March 3 that forced him to miss 10 games and the final five because of a lacerated kidney. But for Upshall, who was signed to a one-year contract late in training camp after he was in Vancouver on a professional tryout, Upshall was another of the fourth-line wingers who for the most part, played effectively when used. His 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) were one more than he had in his first year with the Blues last season and about what was expected. When Upshall was at his best, he was a good forechecker, a good penalty killer and played effective minutes. The mark against him was taking bad penalties at inopportune times in games and was at times scratched because of it. It's not certain if the Blues will being Upshall back again, but if they do, he's nothing more than a fourth line winger/depth guy that can play the defensive type role the Blues can implement when needed. However, I'm not sure they bring him back.
My grade: C+

Sammy Blais -- Blais played in 11 games his first NHL season and had more recalls on him than a Toyota. Blais had a goal and two assists in his 11 games and you could see the potential that he displayed during training camp and earned his recalls. But there were also the times when coach Mike Yeo would point out that Blais' most glaring deficiency was play without the puck, which he was learning well at the AHL level. Blais will be back next camp with likely more added responsibility and a chance to crack the opening night lineup in October. 
My grade: incomplete 

Zach Sanford -- Sanford did not play in one NHL game this season after shoulder surgery while injured on the first day of training camp. When Sanford was cleared to play, he went to San Antonio and never made it up to the NHL level. If Sanford can come back in the fall 100 percent, he will have the chance to earn a third-line role.
My grade: incomplete

Beau Bennett -- Bennett played in just six games after the Blues signed him as a free agent last summer to provide deprth at forward. He spent most of the season playing with the Chicago Wolves.
My grade: incomplete

Defensemen:

Robert Bortuzzo -- Before Bortuzzo came to the Blues, he had a career plus-minus of minus-8. In 150 games with the Blues, he's plus-24, including a plus-11 in what I feel was Bortuzzo's best season during his NHL career. Not only did Bortuzzo play a career-best 72 games this season, he set highs in goals (four) and points (13). Bortuzzo was an effective third-pair defenseman no matter who he played with, whether it was Vince Dunn to begin the season, or Carl Gunnarsson, Joel Edmundson, didn't matter. Bortuzzo, who did occasionally take the bad penalty and wasn't the most fleet-footed skater, played the physical element well, was responsible for the most part in his own end and is to be commended for gutting out the last portion of the season playing on an injured left knee, which he hurt Feb. 16 in Dallas. Bortuzzo is under contract for another season and would make a good sixth defenseman moving forward.
My grade: A-

Jay Bouwmeester -- Bouwmeester is always been known as the ironman of NHL defensemen, the guy who never missed a game. Well, Father Time starts catching up with you, and for Bouwmeester, his 15th season was injury-riddled. First, a fractured ankle during training camp forced him to miss the first 21 games, then nine more when he injured his hip Feb. 10, the same injury that would shut the left-handed d-man down the final 16 games after re-injuring the same hip March 3 at Dallas. Bouwmeester was always a minutes guy, reliable in his zone, one that couldn't be beat off the rush easily but it was evident he wasn't the same player this year, and at 34, there's no telling how these injuries will slow him down moving forward; he finished with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 35 games. In the time that Bouwmeester played, he was OK, and again, that's giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was playing hurt, which I commend any player for trying to help his team any way possible. Bouwmeester had surgery to repair the injured hip and will have one more year left on his contract, and it will be interesting to see how the Blues use him in their plans going forward.
My grade: C

Vince Dunn -- For a rookie, not much else can be expected from the season Dunn had. Maybe the biggest surprise coming out of camp the way he won a job and kept advancing his career after beginning as a third-pair defenseman with Bortuzzo. From a positive perspective, Dunn made terrific puck decisions off the rush, he made smart defensive reads and wasn't overwhelmed often by the move up to the NHL game. He was effective on special teams and transitioned the puck smoothly a lot. He handled his minutes effectively. But there were also those rookie games when he didn't play well, it really showed. The times when he made puck mistakes, they were glaring, which is natural for a rookie learning the ropes. I would have liked to see a better shooting percentage than 3.6 percent (five goals, 19 assists) in 75 games. He took 138 shots and would have liked to see a few more pucks go in, but that will come with time and repetition. Dunn has a solid future ahead and could on become a top defensive player on the horizon.
My grade: B+

Joel Edmundson -- If anyone made the biggest jump in play, it was Edmundson. I remember the awful mistake he made against the Dallas Stars in the second round of that playoff series two years ago; how far he's come since then. Edmundson, who will get a nice raise this summer as a restricted free agent to-be, advanced his game at both ends of the ice. He established career-highs in goals (seven) and points (17) in just 69 games. Remember when Edmundson broke his forearm? Right in the middle of the Blues' biggest funk? His absence could definitely be felt. He plays the kind of physical game the Blues desperately need, and he's cut down on some of those turnovers that plagued him earlier in his career drastically. Yes, Edmundson also took the occasional penalty that could have been avoided, but they all do. His ability to move the puck and knowledge when to pinch offensively to go with his instincts make him a more complete player. Edmundson definitely fits into the Blues' long-term plans and rightfully so.
My grade: A

Carl Gunnarsson -- Probably had the most under-the-radar season of any Blues player, certainly among the defenseman. Gunnarsson was never known as the flashy guy that will make the highlight reels every night. He was a steady, solid, reliable partner players love to play with. Just ask Alex Pietrangelo. As Pietrangelo was off setting solid offensive numbers, Gunnarsson was his partner most of the season and provided the safety blanket. Unfortunately, Gunnarsson's season, which included a career-best five goals to go with his nine points in 63 games, saw his season cut short when he tore the ACL in his left knee March 23 against Vancouver and will miss six months after surgery. He has another year left in his contract and it'll be interesting to see how he performs after such a serious injury. But this was Gunnarsson's best of four seasons with the Blues, which included a career-high plus-15.
My grade: B+

Colton Parayko -- Parayko has caught my eye from the moment the Blues drafted him and from the moment he took the NHL by storm. You love his size (6-foot-6), his ability to move the puck at times is impeccable, and his poise on the ice makes the game look so easy for him. And for a good portion of the season, that was on full display. But I don't know if it was the big contract kicking in and expecting to do too much but I felt like Parayko's game regressed down the stretch. He was turning more pucks over than usual, his positioning on the ice wasn't nearly as strong and his inability to play a more physical role despite the 6-6, 230 pounds he possesses was frustrating to watch. Maybe we get spoiled by how mistake-free he played most nights before. His 22:36 ice time were second on the team. And for the big, booming cannon of a shot he has, six goals in 82 games -- he is one of two players along with Schenn to play in all 82 games -- is just not nearly enough. His 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) is OK, but OK for a player now making $5.5 million has to be better moving forward. Yes, this is the NHL and teams find ways to try the strengths of the opponents away but Parayko needs to find that mojo he had his first 2.5 seasons. One of the assistant coaches (preferably Darryl Sydor) needs to really hone in on his skills and help him take the next step moving forward.
My grade: B-

Alex Pietrangelo -- The rock on the Blues' blue line, the captain had arguably his best season in the NHL. His 25:44 were once again tops on the team and top-10 in the NHL among all defensemen. Pietrangelo's 15 goals and 54 points were career-highs in 78 games for the 28-year-old who took on more of an offensive role once Kevin Shattenkirk was traded away. Pietrangelo played top pair minutes, power play, penalty kill, 5-on-5, 4-on-4, 3-on-3, everything. And the Blues counted on his big minutes. When Pietrangelo got off to a hot start offensively, his name was mentioned among Norris Trophy candidates, which is something he's never won. He also made mistakes but playing the amount of time he does, it's bound to happen, but the pluses far outweigh the negatives, and Pietrangelo will continue to be part of the important plans for the Blues moving forward.
My grade: A

Mitch Reinke -- Also signed on March 25 out of Michigan Tech University who made his NHL debut March 31 in Arizona who is small in stature (5-11, 181) but a player the Blues like.
My grade: incomplete

Jordan Schmaltz -- It was also Schmaltz's second brief taste of NHL life, playing in just 13 games this season after playing in nine last season and one playoff game. It's been hard to get a read on Schmaltz after playing so little. There were times where it looked like he belonged and other times where he looked overwhelmed. Unfortunately, Schmaltz sustained a concussion at the end of the season and could not finish it. It will be time once and for all what the Blues have in the 2012 first-round pick next year. Training camp will be of vital importance for Schmaltz.
My grade: incomplete 

Chris Butler -- Butler has played in just 12 NHL games the past three seasons, and six of them came down the stretch of this season with the Blues sustaining injuries to Bouwmeester and Gunnarsson. He's a veteran guy that the Blues felt comfortable using in games that mattered.
My grade: incomplete

Petteri Lindbohm -- Lindbohm didn't play in one NHL game this season and spent most of it on injured-reserve with a shoulder ailment that required surgery.
My grade: incomplete

Jake Allen -- Well, the best way to describe Allen's game, or his career, is with a yo-yo. When he's really good, he's really good. When he's really bad, he's really bad. There's the Allen that frustrated the Minnesota Wild in the playoff series a year ago, the one that played well in games this season, too. But there's the one that allowed the soft goals and couldn't buy a win when needed. Allen's 27-25-3 record with a 2.75 goals-against average  and .906 save percentage were ordinary numbers at best. His 27 wins were tied for 14th in the league, his GAA was 28th in the league, and his save percentage was tied for 41st. If you want to be a No. 1 goalie, those numbers simply have to be better. Period. The Blues at times were beyond frustrated with Allen's play, and in my opinion, I saw both the good and the bad of Allen. And to remain this team's No. 1 goalie, those problems need to be solved quickly moving forward, depending on what the Blues plan to do with the remaining three years remaining on Allen's contract.
My grade: C-

Carter Hutton -- Would the Blues have stood a chance at making the playoffs without Hutton's contributions? In a word: no. For the second straight season -- and likely final one here for the impending UFA -- Hutton was admirable with his play despite only getting in 32 games. His 17-7-3 record is most respectable, but his 2.09 GAA led the NHL, as did his save percentage (.931). When things were going bad for Allen, Hutton was there to be the rock of support on and off the ice, prompting Allen to once say Hutton is the best goalie in the league right now. I would certainly call this Hutton's best in the NHL, including the one he had in Nashville in 2013-14 filling in for the injured Pekka Rinne. Hutton's rebound control was excellent, his puck movement was solid and he made timely saves on multiple occasions. I don't see how the Blues will be able to afford keeping him, but if he wants to come back and be a tandem with Allen or whoever the Blues decide to go with and if the price is right, don't see why Hutton shouldn't come back. But chances are somebody else has noticed how good he was and offers him 1A goalie-type money, but Hutton said he and his family love St. Louis. We'll see how this plays out but we can't blame him for searching for not only greener pastures but a more prominent role than a backup.
My grade: A

Ville Husso -- Husso was recalled multiple times to back up the Blues' top goalies but never got in a game. He is definitely in the future plans, and being named to the AHL All-Rookie Team is certainly worth taking note in.
My grade: incomplete

MANAGEMENT/COACHES:

Doug Armstrong -- Armstrong hit a home run when he traded for Schenn, getting the first-time All-Star for Jori Lehtera but it also took a pair of first-round picks to get Lehtera's bad contract -- which Armstrong gave in the first place -- off their hands. But to his credit, he also got a first-round pick back and the Blues used it to get Klim Kostin when they traded Ryan Reaves to Pittsburgh. But let's face it, as much as Armstrong wanted to tell the fans this was another transition season, when you're on the cusp of making the playoffs and the decision he made to do nothing at the trade deadline was based on the belief that they were not good enough to be a Stanley Cup team, that to me is sending the wrong message to a loyal fan base. And fans rightfully are seething at that decision because of their thirst for playoff hockey, and these fans are the ones paying your bills. The decision to trade away Paul Stastny, which I don't think was a bad idea considering Stastny is an impending UFA and they got a nice prospect [Erik Foley] and Winnipeg's first round pick they can use perhaps as a bargaining chip in the trade market this summer if they choose, but to get nothing else to help the locker room at the time make a final push was not the message the players wanted or expected. The players were angry about it, and the fans were/have been angry about it since, and who can blame them? Armstrong's thought was to keep building the Blues for the near future by keeping top-end prospects, and I have no issues with that. My problem is basically telling the fan base the Blues were not going for the playoffs even though they were right there, and we all know once you get in, you just never know; try using that as a selling point that you'll be a playoff team when you want their money again next season after all but saying you weren't good enough this year. However, come spend your money here anyway. He believed risking prospects was not worth it. I think playoff money for a loyal ownership group that allows you year after year to be a cap team and sending the right message to your fan base was the right thing to do. And remember, the Blues have $22.85 million tied up to the contracts of Steen, Berglund, Sobotka, Bouwmeester and Allen through at least the 2018-19 season. He is the guy that steers this ship and the successes and failures go through him. Although a 94-point season is nothing to scoff at, this season is considered a failure, plain and simple. And now it's up to Armstrong to upgrade substantially, as he indicated, it's an important summer for him.

My grade: D

Mike Yeo -- Yeo's first full season saw the Blues fall just short, and while many of you want to blame Yeo for this, I don't. In fact, I think Yeo has done a terrific job coaching this particular team -- which had no business competing for a playoff spot -- to even be there in the first place. Coaching a team that had basically one top-six line, a second line that was more of a third line and two fourth lines with fourth-line depth, and ti still get 44 wins out of it with average goaltending from your No. 1 and at times, a depleted blue line that still was functional even when missing key guys. Yeo did play a part in the 30th-ranked power play, and his failure to allow assistant coaches to fix it falls on his shoulders and he has to take responsibility for that. This is something that has followed him from Minnesota and it's something Yeo must look at and accept change, and/or relinquish some control of how special teams are executed. But all things considered, and the roster he was given to work with this season to go along with so many key guys injured, I thought Yeo performed better than expected.
My grade: B+