Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo completed what could be argued as the best season of his NHL career.

Pietrangelo missed nine games during the regular season with a knee injury but finished with seven goals and added 30 assists in 73 games; he added another two goals and eight assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games in helping the Blues reach the Western Conference Final for the first time in 15 seasons.

Pietrangelo was No. 1 in the playoffs among those that played a minimum 10 games in the playoffs in ice time at 28 minutes 48 seconds per game and was fifth overall in the playoffs. He talks about the reflection of the season, approaching the offseason and playing a lot of minutes this season:

Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo

Reflection on what you were able to accomplish as a team: A little bit of everything. Disappointment is obviously the first thing that comes to mind. You put in a lot of effort, a lot of guys put in a lot of time here over the last six, seven years, too, and to come the closest we've ever come is obviously disappointing, but sitting back these last couple days with the guys with their wives and kids and kind of going through the year, going through all the memories and stuff, it's fun to look back and be happy with what we accomplished.

Was it personally the most satisfying year for you?
Yeah. We've seen a lot of things over the last few years here; we've had a lot of disappointment. For myself and for other guys who have been here for a while to be able to take this group to the next level, for the city, for the organization, it's a good feeling. It's something to be proud of and it's something to know that there's obviously something more to accomplish. There's another level that we need to get to. We'll worry about that in a couple weeks.

How do you approach this offseason? Do anything different knowing what you just went through?
I think you realize how hard it is to get to the finals and win. All four teams that were there, you realize how difficult it was to get to that point. I think we realize as a group in here how important it is to have everyone involved, how important it is to play for one another more so than ever. That was probably the biggest thing we learned. We didn't get to where we wanted to be, so there's obviously some things that need to change, but we'll address that once we'll be able to decompress.

On playing a lot of minutes, wearing down:
Obviously it takes a toll on you. That's the furthest we've ever been. That's the most hockey I've ever played. It does take a toll on you, but I think we have a great group of flow guys there. Everybody was chipping in there at the end. I think we used more balance in that third round more than any. I think we learned a lesson. I've never played that many minutes, so it's a good learning curve.

On not being the same roster going forward:
There's a few guys that have asked me that I'm trying not to think about it. We've talked all year about how close this group is for a reason. We're not just saying it because it's the right thing to say; we truly believe in that, we really care for each other. ... Just driving home last night and everyone there with their wives and kids and go through the year, having the opportunity to catch up with everybody, it's not a good feeling knowing that it might not be everybody back, but hopefully everybody is. That's not up to me. If it was up to me, everybody would be back.

Can you imagine a locker room without Backes?
Uhh, no. It's going to be an interesting summer obviously. Him and I are obviously real close. He's in my wedding party, so getting married the day after (July 1, the start of free agency), July 2nd. I'm going to smash his cell phone. 

On being named to Canada for World Cup of Hockey:
I guess it made the last couple days a little bit better. It's obviously an accomplishment. I feel happy about that obviously. I've represented Canada in the Olympics, and not in the World Cup. It's obviously a big accomplishment for me and my family. It's going to be exciting in Toronto, too, for all my family and friends.

On Hitch's job this year and does he deserve to return?
(* answered before Hitchcock was brought back on a one-year extension):
He pressed the right buttons this year. Look where he got us. Whether he's back or not is not up to me. Everybody has nothing but respect for him in this room. He led us to this point. That's up to the people above me, but he did a great job this year.

On getting fed up with Hitch at times; does he still have burning desire?:
You're always going to get mad at your boss, right? Hitch is a competitor. He knows how to push the right buttons. It's not easy to accept it in the moment, but when you look back and look at the overall picture now of what he was able to do, obviously he's doing it for a reason. He's had success in this league for so long for a reason. Sometimes you don't always agree with it, but it works.

Does Hitch still have what it takes; can his style work?
He's done it. There's a lot of teams that do it. San Jose did a lot of that, too, the way we wanted to play. I think it works. I think this team's built in here to play that way. We've had a lot of success in the last few years in the regular season and this year obviously to get to where we were, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think it worked. 

Will you watch the final or ignore it?
I might watch a little bit of it. I think this year coming so close, it's been the biggest disappointment. I don't know if I want to watch it, but this time of year other than baseball, there's not much to watch.

Steen has shoulder surgery, to be reevaluated in four months

Forward was initially injured Match 20 at Arizona, played through 

injury during Stanley Cup Playoffs; will miss World Cup of Hockey 

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Blues left wing Alexander Steen had successful shoulder surgery on Friday, the Blues announced, and he will be reevaluated in 16 weeks.

Steen dislocated his left shoulder following a collision with Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton on Feb. 20 and crashed into the corner boards that forced him to miss 15 games. He returned for the final six regular season games and played all 20 games for the Blues in the playoffs, who reached the Western Conference Final and lost in six games to the San Jose Sharks.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues forward Alexander Steen (20) had successful shoulder

surgery on Friday that will sideline him a minimum 16 weeks.

When Steen is initially reevaluated, it will take him into the first week of October and force him to miss the start of not only training camp but also the World Cup of Hockey, which begins on Sept. 17 and runs through Oct. 1.

Steen finished second on the team behind Vladimir Tarasenko in points (52); he had 17 goals and 35 assists in 67 games and had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the playoffs. 

Steen, who was initially selected to play for Sweden, was routinely matched up against the top players in the playoffs, including Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round and Jamie Benn, Patrick Sharp and Cody Eakin of the Dallas Stars in the second round and at times, Jason Spezza.

Steen will enter the 2016-17 season in the final year of a three-year, $17.4 million extension and make $6.5 million, a contract he initially signed in during the 2013-14 season.

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored a career-high 14 goals during the regular season this past year.

Shattenkirk just completed his sixth season with the Blues and in the NHL since the Colorado Avalanche traded him here in 2011. 

Shattenkirk, 27, has one-year remaining on a contract that started in 2013. He talks about the season that just ended with a trip to the Western Conference Final, a playoff in which he led all Blues defenseman with 11 points (two goals, nine assists in 20 games), what the Blues could look like moving forward and his desire to remain in St. Louis:

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk

Is there more perspective now than after losing Game 6?
I think so. I think Hitch mentioned that it was a weird coming here (last Saturday) and we're not playing hockey again. But I think when we look at it and everyone looks at their calendars today and we realize how far we made it, we're proud of our accomplishments. We know there's still a ways to go, but I think it was good for us to see even making it past the second round, just how much harder it gets after that. We're going to be better off for it.

Is it what makes it more disappointing with how close you came to getting there?
Yeah, I think so, and I think the series could have gone any which way. It was such a close series. I know some of the scores didn't show that, but it was just whatever team seemed to establish the game and it was the same type of game, seemed to win. They were just able to beat us at that game a little better and I think it's tough because we were right there, and if we were able to edge them out, pushed them out a little more, we wouldn't be here today.

When you look back now, was it a successful season?
I think the regular season was definitely successful. I think the way that we were able to deal with the adversity that was thrown at us through the injuries and coming back from a postseason like last year, we had such a disappointing first round, the way that we responded was great as a team. Playoffs, it's not a full success unless you win the Stanley Cup. I think that's the belief in this locker room that everyone shares. I think it was a great experience to go this far and be able to learn some more. I'm a guy who hasn't been this far before and there's plenty of us in this room who have never been this far. It's another learning experience and for our young guys to go through this this early, you know the teams in the past that have won a lot, they have young guys who get to experience playoff hockey but for them to go this far, I think it's only going to be an advantage for us going forward.

Do you wonder who's going to be on the bench coaching next year?
(Asked before Blues announced Hitchcock's one-year extension):
That's completely out of our hands. It's obviously something that you think about, but you never know what's going to happen. I know last summer was a big decision and when it was made, in the media, there was a lot of controversy around the pick, but he's shown time and time again that he can coach great teams. Here we are; we lose in the third round, but it was another step forward.

Hope that Backes is back?
It would be very strange not to see him here. A similar situation to Barret Jackman last year, just a guy who's been a fixture on this team for so long. A big part of this locker room and the whole St. Louis community. It's out of our hands. He's someone we all value here and love as a teammate and only wish that he gets to come back.

Have you been part of a closer group than the one you guys had here this year?
No, I don't think so. This was one of the best teams that I've ever played with to a man. I think we really enjoyed each other's company this year. On and off the ice, we were tight. That was something that was never in question with this team, the team dynamic. I think that was for me and I think for everyone the most enjoyable part of this season.

Is that what makes this tough because as you see it, this roster won't be the same?
Yeah, absolutely, and that's what you have to deal with every year, whether you win the Stanley Cup or you don't. That's something that you have to stomach in this business, but again, it's something where I think we're all happy we got to share this experience together.

Can Hitch still press the right buttons?
He has the passion for it. I think there's no doubt about that. I don't think there's anyone in the game of hockey that loves the game more than him and pours as much into it. I didn't see any difference this year or any reason this year why that would be any sort of issue.

On getting support from fans:
It was great. I think with how the past three seasons have gone, I think it would have been easy for fans to have some skepticism and really not fully buy into the playoffs this year. We really enjoyed how much they supported us and we know once we got out of the first series that everyone could take a deep breath. I know they felt the same way. All the way up to the last game, it was tremendous support and year after year, as a player, it humbles you and makes you appreciate that you get to play in such a great city.

With the team in a bind as far as the cap is concerned, do you expect to be back?
Absolutely. I love it here, but that's out of my hands.

Blues right wing Troy Brouwer

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- When the Blues acquired Troy Brouwer via trade from the Washington Capitals for one of the more polarizing figures (T.J. Oshie) in recent franchise history, it wasn't necessarily received with open arms.

But by the end of the regular season and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 30-year-old Brouwer won over the hearts of Blues fans and showed the kind of moxie needed to help St. Louis advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2001.

Brouwer finished the postseason with eight goals in 20 games, more than the seven he had scored in the previous 78 playoff games; he added five assists to give him 13 points after 18 goals and 21 assists playing in all 82 regular season games. 

Blues right wing Troy Brouwer

Brouwer can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and he addresses his impending status, his time in St. Louis and if he'd welcome a return: 

On removing playoff beard:
The wife's a little happier. She wants us playing, but she gets to see what her husband looks like again.

After processing it for a couple days, can you be satisfied with your season?
We can be happy with the progress that we made. The fact that we were able to get deeper into the playoffs that this team has in the past couple seasons, but it's still kind of the same attitude. Unless you're putting rings on your finger at the end of the year, it's always going to be a disappointing end.

Is this the legacy of this team?
Hopefully this team is still writing their story to the top. There's not many teams that can go straight there. You look at the Sharks for example. They've played for so many years and are finally getting a chance at the Stanley Cup and we're hoping we're going to be one of the teams next year, a team competing at the end for a chance to win. We made some great strides this year as a franchise, as a team in the dressing room, getting guys experience going a little bit deeper in the playoffs, what it takes to close teams out, to move onto the next round. The mentality in here is still disappointment for this year, but excitement (and) looking forward to another opportunity next year.

On fitting in St. Louis; could have worked out any better?
I knew my style of play was going to complement the team. I liked the way they played here and I thought I would be able to fit in pretty well and I thought I did. Early on, it was finding myself in the dressing room with leadership roles, friendship roles. That took a little bit longer, but I feel like I found my spot here. I really enjoyed my year here. I'm not quite sure what's going to happen going forward here, but it was an amazing year for me and an amazing experience for me and my family. We really want to thank and compliment the city of St. Louis and the St. Louis Blues for such a warm reception and the love that they showed me and my family all season.

Are you open to coming back?
It's a spot that we really enjoyed this year. Kind of no different than what I said after the last game, I don't know what exactly what the cap situation is. I know it's a business and I know they have young guys coming up for contracts in a year or two. You can't just look at this season. You have to look forward to what their cap situations are going to be in years to come but it's definitely a team and a city, a franchise I would love to come back if the opportunity makes itself available.

Why are you not the only player to say this city is your spot. Why is that?
It's just such a comfortable area. The guys in here are awesome. I love every one of them. It's a pleasure to come to the rink every day and have fun and play beside and work beside these guys. All the way through the trainers are phenomenal guys. They work so hard for us and they're just as big a part of the team as we are. They make it run. You may not see them on the ice, but they're the guys that make sure we can do what we do. The city is phenomenal, the support that we had in the playoff run. There's a lot of things that go into just loving the team that you play for and it shows even with the alumni association, how many guys stick around after they're done hockeying. It's a great city, it's a great organization, it's one that guys love to be a part of.

How rewarding was it to have such a productive postseason?
Considering I wasn't able to contribute, I'd say offensively in previous postseasons, to be such a big part of it and such big moments, personally it's rewarding but to see the look on the guys' faces when we move onto the next round and the next round and win those big games and be a part of that, it was an amazing experience for me. It was a lot of fun, but yeah, we still wish we were playing.

Was it nice to score game-winner against Chicago in Game 7 and hear Oshie who?
I don't want anybody to forget Oshie. He was a great player for the franchise for a long time, but I'm glad that the trade worked out on both sides. I know he's going to have another good year in Washington next year. I was just glad that maybe I could get some of the people who were hurt by the trade hopefully on my side a little.

Why was this group able to bond the way it did?
We went through a lot of adversity at first, a real tough camp, a lot of injuries right out of the gate, so it forces guys to lean on each other more. When you're doing that, you see character in guys that you may not otherwise see. We had a lot of good timers together. Beers on the road, going for dinner, all that stuff contributes. Just seeing guys away from the rink as well as battling for each other and such, tough times at the beginning of the year, plus having success together, it brings guys closer together. Like I said, an unbelievable group of guys in here. I love every one of them and we had just a fun time this year. We had some tough times where things weren't going our way,  but I think we just stuck together with good relationships and you see guys hugging each other after here and nobody wants to leave right now.

You said you knew you were good for the room when you told Hitch to shut up. How good did that feel?
I don't know if that was a good story to get out (laughing), but he's a guy that ... he's so passionate about the game, but sometimes you just need a break from hearing Hitch's voice. It wasn't a mean thing or anything. It was just a passionate hockey play and I think it was on the ice, I don't remember. Maybe it was a beating or something. I don't think it was as harsh as it sounds.

From a player perspective, can Hitch still press the right buttons?
(*answered before Hitchcock was rehired):
He is a great coach. He wouldn't have the record that he has if he wasn't. I'm not sure what his future is, I'm not sure what their thinking is, but he's a great Xs and Os coach. He always brings a good game plan for us. I don't know if it's the team or him deciding what's going to happen next year, but we wish him the best if he moves on and we wish him the best obviously if he stays here.

What would it be like not having a guy like Backes or a Shattenkirk back here next year?
They're big holes. They're big players. They're big names. They're big friends as well. So whenever you change one player, you change the dynamic of the team and there's a lot of uncertainty out there every season with every team and this year is no different. I don't know what trade rumors or inclinations there are with certain guys. I know Dave is in a similar situation as myself. We've got a couple new guys that are up for new contracts as well. There's a lot of moving parts that go into it. I guess management's going to have to sort through it and prioritize I guess.

Blues captain David Backes

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Blues forward David Backes just completed his 10th season in St. Louis, including fifth as captain.

Helping the Blues advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 15 years, Backes had his most productive playoff with seven goals and seven assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games; he had 13 combined points in his previous 29 playoff games.

Backes, who has 206 regular season goals and 254 assists in 727 games, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1 if he doesn't resign with the only franchise he's known since being drafted in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. He talks about that possibility, his evolution in St. Louis, an emotional speech following a Game 6 loss to the San Jose Sharks and Blues coach Ken Hitchcock.

Blues captain David Backes

On if he thinks he'll go to free agency:
That is a possibility. We'll see what all shakes itself out. We flew home pretty much on Thursday and had a little camaraderie builder and a couple parties with the group to spend some more time together and enjoy each other's companies before we start heading our separate ways. There hasn't been a ton of time to sit down and collect all the thoughts and start to move ahead to whatever comes next, but we've got the holiday weekend now to kick back and start to organize some of those thoughts. Who knows what we do next?

Is it your hope it works out and you stay in St. Louis?
No question. This is home. We've been here 10 years. This is what we consider home. I don't know anything else. Yes, it would be my hope that something gets figured out, but there's moving parts and different sides and it all needs to align. I haven't even spoken with my agent yet. Hopefully it all works out, but it is the unfortunate side of sports that guys staying with one team is rare. Maybe I'm one of those rare guys; that would be great.

Is part of it wanting to see this thing through?
No question. I've been here when the stands were empty and we were losing every game and we were eliminated in February and the rest was just for show. Those were thin times and now we've gotten to the point where we've reached a Western Conference Final. We're a team that any time you're playing the Blues, you know that you're in for a battle. We've created a great culture here, but those are my off-the-cuff feelings about it. There's obviously a business side for both sides that needs to make sense. That will sort itself out.

Ca you remember the first time when you walked in here, how different is it, how much have you grown?
I've started to cut my hair a little bit more. I walked in here 10 years ago petrified, quiet and not saying much. Now I'm a little more established and confident and a guy that is a leader in this room and that evolution is something that's special, and not just as an athlete, as a person growing from a single guy to a married guy with a kid and starting a family and continuing those sorts of life steps as well. There's been a lot of growth in this room, in this city with a lot of people around this town that have been phenomenal to us. Those aren't relationships that you just pick up if you end up in a different city.

What can the younger players learn from this moving forward?
They were right there for 102 games with all of us. That doesn't include the exhibition or some of the early tournaments that they had to play in. I think they got a real life lesson on the marathon that's an NHL season and goes into the playoffs. For them to have that in their first year, that's heck of a lesson and something that'll benefit them for the rest of their careers. That's a feather in their cap they'll have. They'll see you have a good summer after that and put those lessons into motion and into what you're doing next year. With the impact those guys had on our team and how much better they made us as young kids, as rookies in this league, the future's bright for them and for this team.

Did the playoff year you had help your cause to stay here?
I think it was nice to exorcise that demon of the first round for three years. It was nice to have that success as a group. Personal statistics in playoffs, I wish they didn't keep them because that's not what matters. Who cares who scores the goal? In order to get that opportunity, someone might have made a great defensive play or great save and then turn around, someone draws a penalty, you get on the power play and ultimately someone puts it in the back of the net, but there were a lot of moving parts to have that goal happen. That's why we were so great for two rounds and were able to reach a Western Conference Final. We bought into that sort of mentality that ... I've referenced him a few times, but (Jaromir) Jagr said a few times, 'Who cares who scored; we want to win.' There's a lot of brilliance in that statement.

Why was this group able to come to come together and be as close as it was?
The experience of Troy Brouwer really helps. The warrior mentality that he brings. A guy that doesn't get talked about a lot is Kyle Brodziak and his team-first mentality and the way that he's a foot soldier that is a guy that doesn't have a ton of ice time, but he's the first guy to buy in and willing to sacrifice for the team and that goes a long way with building that team-first mentality that you need in a team sport like this to have success. A guy like Scottie Upshall is in a similar role but is saying all the right things, gives the guys tons of energy and when those guys get on the ice, they walk the walk after they've talked the talk. It gave us a big boost in a lot of different situations that made us all better and gave us a chance at success. We were able to taste that for a few rounds this year.

Did you watch video of your postgame reaction following Game 6 loss?
I think I'm getting a Visine endorsement after that interview. I've seen a bit of it and quite a few people have referenced it. That was real, that was raw, that was my heart right on my face and coming out of my tear ducts. It's one of the hardest things I've done as an athlete is to emerge out of a room and have to face the cameras with that sort of emotion all over the place. In hindsight, I'm glad I came out I talked. I think people could see how much it meant to, and I'm speaking for the whole with that emotion of what that opportunity and this run meant to these guys. That opportunity was still there and we didn't get it done. The sting of that is with every guy in this room.

On what Steve Ott gave you to help you play Game 5?
Someone said that everyone wanted to know what he gave me. Someone said it was performance enhancing drugs and so he wants to sue me for defamation (laughing). That's how he spun the whole thing. He didn't give me any grief. He knows that we've got a great relationship where we know each other, wants to give everything they have o try and win the Stanley Cup. There's definitely a mutual respect there that was started from playing against each other and trying to kill each other and now as teammates has blossomed even further to something that we just get what the other's thinking all the time.

Would you like to see Hitch return and has what he brings been beneficial?
I think so. There's a feeling of unfinished business for everyone in this room. You get two wins away from a Stanley Cup Final, you want another crack at it. He's a guy that's put all the work in, puts a great game plan out there and when we have executed it, it's really tough to beat. The whole coaching staff is in the same situation. Those guys work their butts off and do everything that they can to control what they can control and put something out there for us and give is all the information that we can ever want. It's up to us to execute it. This year, we did a better job than we have in the past and it showed on the ice.

Does Hitch still have the passion to coach?
There's certainly times when he gets under your skin and he's pushing the buttons and he's not your best friend, but I don't know that you want a coach that's your best friend. You want someone that's pushing you and someone that's wanting to make you better and make the team better. He fits all those qualities in a coach. Five years together now, I think he's done one heck of a job.

Did Hitch do anything different this postseason?
No, I think finally in his hockey genius, I think, as far as Xs and Os, I think he like a lot of us said, 'You know what, everyone's counted us out. We're done in the first round. We're playing the defending Stanley Cup champions. Let's put it all out there.' He's going to coach his butt off and we've got to play our butts off. But why not coach your butt off and play your butt off and do everything we can? I think he was at his best when we needed it most in the playoffs. We can say that about a lot of guys in this room and that's why we had success.

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Blues rookie defenseman Colton Parayko burst onto the scene and made a lasting impression in the NHL.

Parayko, a third round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, finished with nine goals and 24 assists in 79 regular season games and followed it up with two goals and five assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping lead the Blues to the Western Conference Final.

Parayko, 23, reflects on his first NHL season, and the consensus is that the sky's the limit for the big 6-foot-6, 226-pound St. Albert, Alberta native:

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko

Reflection on first year in the NHL; how much did you enjoy it?
So much. It was such a great group of guys this year. Just coming in my rookie season and having this group around me was incredible. They helped me out so much day in, day out. I think this was a perfect place to have my rookie season just because of the character and the group that we had in here.

Can you elevate your game going into next year knowing you reached conference final your first year in NHL:
That was a great experience. Obviously my first year, you get the idea of what it's going to take to be successful and what it's going to take to get to the next level. Obviously we want to be successful and eventually get to the (Stanley Cup) Final and eventually win everything. That was a huge steppingstone just based on my rookie season personally. Obviously we'd like to go farther still. That's the plan in future years for sure. Obviously what we learned, it's really tough. We all had to come together as a team and buy in. Overall, it's was a great opportunity for myself and the other two rookies. It was a lot of fun to go to war with these guys.

How were you guys able to bond as a group the way you did?
I just think the guys in the room. They all have attitudes that are open, but no one's holding anything against each other. Everyone worked together well, no one was holding anything against each other. We all obviously make mistakes, but we kind of pick each other up if we have any mistakes or setbacks. I think just the mentality of the group and knowing that we had such a great team and how far we could go, things like that were huge. The buy-in was great. It was a lot of fun to kind of be a part of that and kind of just have a feel for what it's like to get that buy-in feel. It was a great feeling.

On playing for North America at World Cup of Hockey:
It's a huge honor. What a tournament that's going to be. Some really good players. I'm really excited. It's going to be a lot of fun and obviously lots of teammates are going to be on opposing teams. That'll be a little fun, too, a little friendly battle. But overall, it's going to be a great experience just kind of going in and playing with a different set of guys that's all kind of my age. Twenty-three and under is going to be fun. We have a good team and it's going to be fun going to that tournament with them.

On playing under Hitch. Do you embrace him coming back if he returns?
It was great. He knows the game. He's really knowledgeable of everything. He's obviously been around the game for a long time. When you have a guy that's been around it for so long, he knows so much about it that you're new you're trying to learn everything. You're trying to learn as much as possible every single day. Just taking little things from him is huge. He's obviously a great coach and established. It was great. From a defensive point, I didn't overly work with him that much, just based on lines and stuff like that, but just when he's looking at the overall picture at practice and stuff like that, it was great. You could tell he's really knowledgeable.

Did Hitch treat you as a veteran despite being a rookie?
Yeah, I think so. He's a guy that wants success just as much as we do and the other players do. I think he wants us to come in and play with an edge every night and be an impact in the game. Being the rookies and being the followers, we can kind of play and that was pretty cool to have because when he gives us the opportunity to play, we had an opportunity to play in all situations this year. Getting to do that our rookie season was huge obviously. It's a confidence-booster and it's a lot of help for us obviously in the future. We're looking forward to hopefully continuing that.

Can you imagine locker room without Backes?
No. He's got everything. I never forgot that he was the first guy that approached me and told me if I needed anything, he's always there. Being a rookie coming out of college, I went to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and I'm looking around this locker room, I'm like, 'All these NHLers, wow, this is unbelievable.' Having obviously the team captain and a player you've watched growing up a while, for him to just come up to you and tell you that helps us settle in a little bit and makes you feel more comfortable. That's just the character he has. On the ice, he's a great player obviously. Everyone is able to see that. On and off the ice, he's just an overall great guy. He's great to be around. That's the bottom line, it's a business. 

On Backes' post-Game 6 speech:
A little bit. It's tough, so emotional because he's been here for so long putting everything into this team just from Day 1. Obviously getting so far and working so hard, putting everything in and he's battled through a lot. Not going to where we wanted to is kind of tough, but we have a lot of great team character and a lot of great team members. It was emotional obviously, but that's kind of who he is and exemplifies his character of who he is. He was a great leader for me and I'll never forget it, that's for sure.

Blues head into summer of uncertainty

Roster as it ended in conference final almost certainly 

won't start next next season as is; Hitchcock status uncertain again 

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- It's too soon to start thinking about the future just yet, especially in the immediate aftermath of a playoff series loss that stung the Blues like no other in recent memory.

But the facts must be addressed at some point: what will become of the Blues moving forward after a six-game series loss to the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final?

(St. Louis Blues photo)

The Blues will have lots of questions to answer this summer, including if

coach Ken Hitchcock (top) will return for a sixth season.

* Will coach Ken Hitchcock, who at 64 is comfortable with one-year contracts (he signed one for 2015-16), return after arguably his best coaching job in five seasons here? 

* What will become of some of the prominent unrestricted free agents, including captain David Backes, who completed his 10th season with the only NHL team he's ever known? Or how about Troy Brouwer, acquired past summer from Washington for the popular T.J. Oshie? Both Backes and Brouwer had terrific playoffs and their stock only went up with their performances.

* How much money will the Blues invest in restricted free agent Jaden Schwartz?

* Do the Blues try and trade some of their prominent pieces (Kevin Shattenkirk, Patrik Berglund and/or Jay Bouwmeester) to A) free up some money and B) bring in assets this way instead of adding free agents, which will be difficult considering the Blues being pressed up against the salary cap? 

* What becomes of veteran fourth-line forwards, and UFAs, Steve Ott, Kyle Brodziak and Scottie Upshall? Do any of them return? Do the Blues ove on without all of them and retool back there?

* Will Vladimir Sobotka, who's played with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League, return following a two-year hiatus and fulfill the $2.7 million arbitration-awarded one-year contract?

Many other questions, including that of star forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who until Game 6 when he scored two virtually meaningless goals, was held off the scoreboard against the Sharks and had his conditioning level questioned; what will management say to him and how will he embrace and understand what it takes to reach the pinnacle? 

Blues players will clean out their lockers on Saturday morning and head off to their destinations of the summer to refresh, recharge and come back in late August/early September with a new understanding and hunger to strive higher after coming so close. Hitchcock and general manager Doug Armstrong will address the media Tuesday morning.

But in the aftermath of the loss to the Sharks, it was quite evident it will take more than just a few days to recover from the furthest run this franchise has seen since 1986 (the Blues reached the conference final in 2001 but were eliminated in five games by Colorado).

"Yeah, it's really disappointing because it's so hard to win in the league right now," Hitchcock said. "It's so hard to win a series, it's so hard to just get into the playoffs. And when you get this far and you get this close, you think you've got the opportunity, and when you have a team like us, which is very much a team, you want to see them successful. They poured a lot into it and poured a lot into it through a lot of adversity and then came out on top. But they're hurting right now; we're all hurting. You don't want this to be our best opportunity, you want it to be a building block. But in this game, in this era, in this cap world, you don't know where you're going to be a year from now. This was a great opportunity and guys are really, really disappointed."

Judging by the players' reactions after the game at SAP Center, it was evident that this one will sting if not for days, weeks, even months.

"There's nothing you can really say to make anybody feel any better than they do. We all know the feeling, we all have it," Brouwer said. "We're all disappointed. An opportunity missed. It's going to hurt for a while. It does whether you lose in the first round or even if you get closer. It was still that same feeling, but to know that we were two wins away from playing for a Cup, it hurts."

Guys like Alex Pietrangelo, drafted in 2008 and completing his seventh full season, are equally upset and hurt. As is Alexander Steen, who was brought here through trade with Toronto in 2010.

"This is the closest we've ever been, this is the closest a lot of guys have ever been, especially guys who have been here for a long time," Pietrangelo said. "A lot of guys have put in a lot of time here. It's pretty disappointing.

"You can appreciate it. We've come pretty far. There (were) only four teams left, we've accomplished a lot this year, but it (was) pretty quiet in the room."

Steen said: "I'm proud of the group in a sense that right from the goalies to everybody who came in throughout the playoffs, it's not the result we were looking for. It's a tough feeling, but the boys battled and gave everything we had. We lost to a strong opponent. We had some good efforts here. It's a tough feeling. Everybody poured everything into it."

Which is why Hitchcock wasn't going to talk to the team in the immediate aftermath. 

"I'm not going to talk to them for a day or two," Hitchcock said after the game. "They need their space with each other. They've bonded here better than any team I've coached in the last 10 years. They need their time together. They don't need me interrupting anything right now. We'll talk at the appropriate time, but right now, they need to be with each other."

The Blues will be with each other one more time Saturday, then it will be a summer of uncertainty. Armstrong will have his hands full trying to retool this roster while managing the team's finances and complying with the cap numbers. That's what made this loss so tough, since the players bonded together in a way that they wanted to make sure was inseparable.

"I love playing with these guys," Brouwer said. "Everyone in here was a phenomenal guy, everyone in here was a phenomenal teammate. We had a lot of laughs, a lot of good times and it’s disappointing that we’re all going home for the summer without an opportunity to compete for rings.

"I don’t know exactly what the whole situation with signing players and cap issues are nowadays. I think if we can keep this team together, we still have a great opportunity for next year. Our young guys are going to have a year of experience. The guys in here who have made it to the third round for the first time have more experience, knows what it takes. I think all of this is only going to make this team and this franchise better. ... I've really enjoyed my year here. Coming here and not knowing what to expect, it was all good things. Phenomenal franchise from ownership down, great guys in the room, great city. I really, really enjoyed my year here."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

One of the many questions looming for the Blues is whether they will bring

Troy Brouwer (36) back. Brouwer can become a UFA on July 1.

One thing the Blues did accomplish: they brought a city together that had little hope for them when it came to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They've brought closer that winning feeling and hope that heading into the 50th anniversary of the franchise's birth, that they're closer to breaking through that not.

"I think the city of St. Louis, the fans, the people of St. Louis fell in love with the team because of this never-say-die attitude they have," Hitchcock said. "They're disappointed like we are, but they fell in love with a hockey club that just poured it all in every night, and had to. It wasn't just connected to winning, it was connected to the way we played, the way the players carried themselves, the way they dealt with you (media) folks in a very classy way, this was a special bond that was created by the players and they won the fans over and they won the people of the city over. It's pretty impressive. I'm sure there's people in the city of St. Louis that are just as disappointed as they are right now, but they won them over. They deserved to win them over by the way they acted and behaved."

* NOTE -- The remainder of the World Cup of Hockey rosters were announced on Friday, and to go with Steen (Sweden), Jori Lehtera (Finland), Tarasenko (Russia) and Sobotka (Czech Republic), Backes (USA), Pietrangelo (Canada), Colton Parayko (North America) and Dmitrij Jaskin (Czech Republic) were added to their respective rosters on Friday.

Some of the notable omissions included Shattenkirk (USA) and Robby Fabbri (North America).