Season Preview: Budding youth among questions facing Blues
theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.
In seemingly true St. Louis Blues fashion, the team enjoyed a successful regular season, but was once again unable to capture hockey's ultimate prize.
The Blues continue to be one of the most productive clubs in the league, but fail to hit the mark when it counts most.
They took a step forward last season by reaching the conference final for the first time since 2001 before ultimately bowing out to the San Jose Sharks.
Here are three things to consider as once again the Blues look to finally take the next step:
Is Jake Allen ready to take on No. 1 job?
The Blues made a bold decision this offseason.
The club elected to trade arguably their top performer of the playoffs, Brian Elliott, to the Calgary Flames, handing over the reins to Jake Allen in the process.
Allen is certainly no stranger to the net, having actually played in more regular-season contests last year than Elliott. However, over the last two seasons, Elliott posted better numbers during regular-season play.
In the playoffs, Allen's been questionable, posting a decent 2.29 goals-against average but a subpar .902 save percentage in 12 games.
The Blues' continued success in the regular season and ability to get over the postseason hurdle hinge largely on Allen taking his play to the next level.
How will last year's rookies fare in sophomore season?
Two young stars have quickly become important contributors to the Blues.
Forward Robby Fabbri and defenseman Colton Parayko each jumped into the lineup full time last season, and held their own.
Fabbri put up 18 goals and 37 points in 72 games, further proving his worth by finishing tied for the team lead with 15 points in 20 playoff contests. Parayko, meanwhile, came second among all rookie defensemen with 33 points in 79 games.
Both are primed to be important parts of the Blues' future - in fact, Fabbri's poised to slot into their top six next season.
St. Louis could improve on last season through the continued development of these young studs - as long as they don't fall victim to the sophomore slump.
Can Hitchcock go out with a bang?
Ken Hitchcock signed another one-year contract this May, asserting that the 2016-17 season will conclude his Hall of Fame career.
The fourth-winningest coach in NHL history captured the Stanley Cup in his fourth year in the league as the Dallas Stars' bench boss, and made it back to the final the following season, but has not reached that same level since.
Hitchcock can be credited with helping turn around the franchise and make it what it is today. The Blues finished fourth in the division two years in a row before capturing the division title in Hitchcock's debut during the 2011-12 campaign.
The team has never finished worse than second in the division under Hitchcock's direction and came within two wins of punching a ticket to the Cup final last season.
Mike Yeo is expected to slide into Hitchcock's role when he leaves. The ultimate parting gift for Hitchcock, who's led the team to three of its four best regular-season finishes, would be one last drink from Lord Stanley's mug.