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Continued: Exciting Mix Of Youth And Veterans Have Blues Fans Thinking Playoffs
Stewart isn't the only one who will be lighting the lamp frequently this season. 23-year old Swedish center Patrik Berglund has scored 20 goals in two years out of three in his NHL career. In 2010-11, he reached the 30-assist mark and showed that his equally adept at providing as he is scoring.

Alexander Steen eclipsed the 50-point mark for the first time in his career last season and play-maker Andy McDonald is a safe bet record 50 points at minimum. McDonald was able to record 30 assists in 2010-11 despite only taking part in 58 games. Both Steen and McDonald will provide leadership as well as points as they both will be wearing assistant captain badges throughout the season.

Matt D'Agostini set career highs in goals (21) and assists (25) in his first full season with the Blues. If he hadn't missed 33 games last season, T.J. Oshie might have been on his way to a career year. Many are anticipating the American forward to have breakthrough season as he is expected to spend increased time on the Blues' power-play. St. Louis appear to have scoring depth spread evenly across four lines and that will be aided once left-winger David Perron makes a full return following a long-absence due to post-concussion syndrome.

Newly-appointed captain David Backes matched career highs in goals (31) and assists (31) while setting a personal best in points at 62. Blues fans are well-aware of Backes' all-around talent as he led all NHL forwards with a plus/minus mark of +32. Joining Backes on the Blues' top line are McDonald and Langenbrunner as the trio showed great chemistry during the preseason. Together they combined for an impressive 13 points in 4 preseason games.

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Langenbrunner played the Wild in front of some family and friends in Minnesota during the preseason.
Backes appreciates what Langenbrunner brings to the table with his experience. The two Minnesotans were previous teammates during Team USA's run toward capturing the Silver Medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Backes is hoping to soak up all he can from Langenbrunner.

"He's got a lot to teach me in his time here. He's a guy with tons of experience that has really been a great sounding board for me ... about little things, about big things, to talk the game over," Backes told Norm Sanders of The Belleville News-Democrat.

The wisdom of Langenbrunner and fellow veteran off-season acquisitions will be invaluable if they can help bring together a talented young hockey team and steer the Blues into the playoffs. Langenbrunner himself is excited by the opportunity to play with his new linemates and is encouraged by his partnership with Backes and McDonald thus far.

"Hopefully, I'm a little bit of a calming influence on him out there, taking a little pressure off him from trying to be perfect. Sometimes when you're captain, you want to do more than your game, but he's (Backes) done a great job of just being himself out there. I think we see the game pretty similarly. ... (Andy) has a ton of speed and really can create things by himself, but Backes and I seem to work off each other pretty well," Langenbrunner told Jeremy Rutherford of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Blues fans are eager to see Langenbrunner, their new-look first line and off-season signings in regular season action when they open their 2011-12 campaign at home in front of the Nashville Predators.

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