Blues' Nikita Alexandrov: Plays sparingly during 2023-24
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Alexandrov recorded two assists across 23 games during the 2023-24 season.
The Blues kept Alexandrov with the big club all season because they feared he would be claimed off waivers if they sent him to the AHL. The 2019 second-round pick barely played as a result, and he averaged just 8:32 of ice time when he was in the lineup. This isn't a great option for the youngster's development, but barring a trade, he'll likely stick with the Blues next season because he's a restricted free agent this summer.
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Blues' Alexei Toropchenko: Tallies 14 goals in bottom-six role
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Toropchenko recorded 14 goals and seven assists across 82 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
Toropchenko played almost exclusively in the bottom six, but he was briefly promoted to the top six when the Blues' playoff hopes were in desperation mode. The 6-foot-6 forward is known for his defensive presence and physicality -- he dished out 165 hits -- but the scoring touch adds to his versatility. The 24-year-old is heading into the final year of his contract next season.
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Blues' Kasperi Kapanen: Generates 22 points with Blues
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Kapanen posted six goals and 16 assists across 73 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
The Blues claimed Kapanen off waivers during 2022-23. He immediately showed promise with eight goals and 14 points through the final 23 games last year, but his game never took off this season. The 27-year-old will be a free agent this summer, and it's unclear if he's in the plans moving forward for the rebuilding Blues.
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Blues' Kevin Hayes: Inconsistent with Blues
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Hayes posted 13 goals and 16 assists across 79 games during the 2023-24 season.
Hayes centered the third line for most of the campagin, and his limited playing time -- he averaged 14:28 of ice time -- led to the worst scoring performance of his career. The 31-year-old ended up being a healthy scratch three times in April. Hayes has two years remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $3.6 million per year, and the Blues may want that salary off their books as they try to inject youth into their lineup during this rebuild.
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Blues' Pavel Buchnevich: Takes slight step back in 2023-24
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Buchnevich contributed 27 goals and 36 assists across 80 games during 2023-24.
Buchnevich scored 26 goals and added 41 assists last season, but he managed that total across just 63 contests. However, Buchnevich had a 21.1 shooting percentage in 2023-24, so some regression was anticipated. By contrast, the 29-year-old succeeded on 13.0 percent of his shots this year, which is more in line with his career average of 14.6. The 29-year-old winger is heading into the final season of his contract carrying a $5.8 million cap hit. The Blues will try to sign him to an extension this summer, but if he doesn't put pen to paper, the Russian winger will be subjected to trade speculation.
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Blues' Brandon Saad: Stacks up 26 goals
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Saad posted 26 goals and 16 assists across 82 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
Saad's goal total was his most since collecting 31 during the 2015-16 season with the Blue Jackets. The 31-year-old handled a middle-six role with the Blues this year along with consistent power-play time, and he'll carry similar duties next season. Saad has two years left on his contract, which carries a manageable $4.5 million yearly cap hit.
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Blues' Jordan Kyrou: Rings up another 30-goal campaign
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Kyrou recorded 31 goals and 67 points -- 21 on the power play -- through 82 games during the 2023-24 season.
Kyrou made some strides in his defensive game, as he finished minus-12 after registering minus-38 last year, but he still has work to do in that area. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old got red-hot down the stretch with 10 goals over the final 13 contests to finish his second straight 30-goal season -- he finished 2022-23 with 37 markers. Kyrou will be a staple in the Blues offense for years to come, making him a coveted fantasy asset.
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Blues' Matt Kessel: Moved to AHL
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Kessel was reassigned to AHL Springfield on Thursday.
Kessel recorded a goal and seven points in 39 games with St. Louis this season. The Blues' campaign is over, but he'll get in some extra contests with Springfield. Kessel has also collected two goals and seven points in 34 appearances with the minor-league club this year.
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Blues' Zach Dean: Reassigned to AHL
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Dean was moved to AHL Springfield on Thursday.
Dean recorded no points, 10 hits and five blocks in nine outings with the Blues in 2023-24. The 21-year-old has also supplied eight goals and 13 points in 47 contests with Springfield. This reassignment presents a chance for Dean to gain a bit more professional experience given the Blues' campaign has concluded.
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Blues' Zachary Bolduc: Sent to minors
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Bolduc was reassigned to AHL Springfield on Thursday.
Bolduc recorded five goals and nine points in 25 appearances with the Blues this season. He has also provided eight goals and 23 points in 48 games with Springfield. The Blues' campaign is over, so Bolduc should see a ton of ice time with Springfield.
Bolduc notched an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Stars.
Bolduc finished the campaign with three goals and two assists over the last five games. The 21-year-old winger held his own in his first taste of NHL action, racking up nine points and 38 shots on net over 25 contests. He is eligible for the AHL playoffs, but it is unlikely AHL Springfield will qualify. Bolduc will likely be reassigned to the Thunderbirds soon.
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Blues' Brayden Schenn: Offers helper Wednesday
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Schenn notched an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Stars.
Schenn had his ups and downs again in 2023-24, but he posted five goals and four assists over eight games in April. The 32-year-old forward produced 46 points over 82 contests this season, his lowest total in a full-length campaign since 2013-14. He added 170 shots on net, 169 hits, 51 blocked shots, 56 PIM and a minus-22 rating while mainly seeing top-six usage.
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Blues' Robert Thomas: Tallies lone goal in shootout loss
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Thomas scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Stars.
Thomas had a great April with three goals and nine assists over eight contests. That puts a bow on a career year for the Blues' top-line center -- he finished with 26 goals, 86 points, 170 shots on net, 47 blocked shots and a plus-9 rating over 82 outings. Thomas won't ever be a shoot-first player, but his growth in that regard should have him in consideration as a middle-round pick in fantasy drafts in the fall.
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Blues' Jordan Binnington: Strong in shootout loss
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Binnington stopped 36 of 37 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Stars.
Binnington put in a good effort for his last game of the season, but he still ended up with his third defeat in his last four outings. The 30-year-old ends 2023-24 at 28-21-5 with three shutouts, a 2.84 GAA and a .913 save percentage over 57 appearances. Those are his best numbers in the last three years, but they're not enough for him to be considered among the NHL's top-tier goalies.
Krug (upper body) won't be in the lineup for Wednesday's regular-season finale against Dallas, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.
Krug will finish the season with four goals, 39 points, an ugly minus-31 rating, 162 shots and 111 hits through 77 contests. He should produce similar totals while seeing regular power-play usage in 2024-25, making him a decent complementary option at defense in most fantasy formats.
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Blues' Brandon Saad: Snags helper in win
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Saad garnered an assist in Sunday's 4-1 victory against the Kraken.
Saad is still stuck in a five-game goal drought dating back to April 4 versus Nashville. During that stretch, the 31-year-old winger has generated two helpers and nine shots on goal. The Blues have just one game remaining this season, so Saad won't be setting any new career highs, though he did get back over the 40-point threshold with 26 goals and 16 assists over 81 contests after recording 37 points in 71 games last year.
Kapanen scored in the first period during Sunday's 4-1 win over the Kraken.
The tally brings Kapanen to six goals and 22 points on the campaign. In a broader view, it remains disappointing that Kapanen never delivered on the promise he showed in flashes during his 20-goal, 40-point run in 2018-19. On the other hand, this is the fifth straight season in which he hasn't topped 11 goals, so fantasy managers weren't likely to be deeply invested in his production.
