Blues season preview: Krug marquee addition to defenseman group

Last season: 42-19-10 (.662 points percentage); first place in Western Conference, lost to Vancouver Canucks in Western Conference First Round .
Krug brings great production, especially on the power play; he has scored 160 power-play points (24 goals, 136 assists) in 523 NHL games. .
After Vladimir Tarasenko had shoulder surgery Oct.
29, 2019, causing him to miss the rest of the 2019-20 regular season, the Blues looked to other forwards to step up their scoring.
They'll likely do the same again this season with Tarasenko expected to be reevaluated in February after another shoulder surgery in September3
Ryan O'Reilly led the Blues in scoring with 61 points (12 goals, 49 assists) in 71 games last season.
Expect O'Reilly and David Perron, who was second with 60 points (25 goals, 35 assists) in 71 games, to lead the way again.
The 29-year-old has shown leadership abilities on the ice, and he won the Selke Trophy voted as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2018-19 and the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as MVP of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 26 games to help St.
Hoffman could get a fresh start after scoring 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 69 games for the Florida Panthers last season.
The 25-year-old was 16-17-8 with a 2.56 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 games for San Antonio last season
With the 56-game regular season, Husso will get an opportunity to take the onus off starter Jordan Binnington
Thomas (C/RW; average draft position: 173.7) scored an NHL career-high 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 66 games last season
Thomas could be elevated to a consistent top-line role this season with Tarasenko (shoulder) expected to miss most of the season