The truth is, things look dire for Saint Louis. The team is in the full rebuilding mode, which means there’s not really that much in the way of expectations or key players, but there are a few players who, if they perform well, could bring the team to a better finish than many people’s early predictions of complete doom.

The first of these players is Wyatt King, the 6’1”, 195 lb center. One of the few returning players on the team, Wyatt King was the leading scorer for the Scarecrows in the pre-season. Mostly done through assists, the large center could be the key playmaker on the team, bringing teammates into the action and setting up goals. He’ll have to make sure to be a little more accurate in his shooting, though, as only two goals in 20 tries isn’t the best clip.

Next is a pair of players, the second line wingers of Alexa Johansen and Scar Bealey. Alexa only played in four games in the preseason, making the analysis a little harder, but what she showed was good, scoring two goals in those games with a shooting percentage of 25%. Scar Bealey, meanwhile, had three points, all assists. It seems like, with these two together, the team should be looking to feed a main scoring threat with a skilled passer. However, it would be nice to see Scar shoot more accurately, and Alexa pass more in general, and both of these players struggle on the defensive side, so if they’re not clicking, things will get rough for the Scarecrows and fast.

Finally, the last player to keep an eye on heading into the season is Jack Booth. A waiver claim, Booth is the team’s only bonafide defender, but still managed four points in seven games, off a goal and three assists. This is in addition to five takeaways, fifteen hits, and seven blocks, meaning Jack Booth was an all around threat on the ice, active and participating across the ice. With a history of injury, though, he’ll need to perfect his stamina, and there will be an almost impossible amount of pressure on his play at the back. Even a tiny slip from him could lead to extra challenges for the goalie, as he has no proper backup or support in most of the team.