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The St. Louis Blues signed Russian phenom and Blues 2010 first round pick  (16th overall), Vladimir Tarasenko to a three year entry level contract this past week.  If the Blues learned one major lesson from the second round playoff sweep they endured at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings, it is that they need more offense.  Defense is something the Blues understand very well and they have spent a lot of time working on a strong defensive team.  Playing the Kings was like playing against themselves and the lack of truly go-to scoring was a key reason for their defeat.  Tarasenko can provide offense, but he does so in a way that suits the Blues style.  Unlike Russian players like Sergei Samsonov or Maxim Afinogenov, Tarasenko does not have a reputation as a quick scoring forward that is of little use in his own end.  Instead he is a forward that fights in the corners and can shoot from the point with the best of them.  This is the type of player the Blues need.  I have hoped that St. Louis would trade for such a player like the Kings did with Mike Richards, however that seems not to be their modus operandi.  The Blues prefer to build from within, so instead of getting Rick Nash, signing Tarasenko is their way of addressing this problem.  Their system works I am glad to say, even if its not my first choice and Tarasenko has the talent to prove the Blues right again.  Its a great move and I look forward to seeing what Tarasenko can do for the Blues.