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Season preview: Blues

Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 49-22-1-10, 109 points (1st in Central, 2nd in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Def. San Jose Sharks 4-1; lost to Los Angeles Kings 4-0.

Coach: Ken Hitchcock (576-365-169, 16th NHL year, 4th team)

Top returning scorer: RW David Backes (24 goals, 30 assists, 54 points)

Top returning goalie: Jaroslav Halak (26-12-7, 1.97, .926)

Key additions: D Jeff Woywitka; C Andrew Murray.

Key subtractions: C Jason Arnott; D Carlo Colaiacovo; RW B.J. Crombeen; D Kent Huskins.

Goaltending: Both Halak and partner Brian Elliott (1.56) posted goals-against averages under two as the Blues captured the Jennings Trophy and posted the NHL’s lowest GAA for the first time since 1999-2000 and just the third time in franchise history.

Player to watch: RW Vladimir Tarasenko. Blues’ top pick in the 2010 entry draft, is a four-year veteran of the KHL at age 20. He was tied for eighth in KHL scoring last season with 23-24-47 totals in 54 games and also was second in scoring for Russia’s 2011 world junior team with 11 points in seven games.

Icing: At end of last season, GM Doug Armstrong and Hitchcock challenged players in team meeting to prove that 2011-12 was a new culture and not just a one-hit wonder . . . RW Chris Stewart will look to rebound. He scored 15 goals last season after back-to-back 28-goal campaigns . . . Blues won division last season despite the lengthy injury absences of top forwards David Perron, Alex Steen and Andy McDonald.

Bob Duff writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NHL for the Windsor (Ontario) Star; The Associated Press contributed to this story

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