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The St. Louis Blues dominated the regular season, earning a league-high 114 points. However, that magical season came to a screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs with a seven-game loss to the Sharks.

As part of our offseason Closer Look series, ESPN.com examines the Blues' '99-00 season and what the team needs to do for a repeat regular season and more postseason success.

Season Review: Tale of two seasons

	Pronger

From top to bottom, the Blues were awesome last season. They played a great team defensive game, and scoring was balanced throughout the lineup. Coach Joel Quenneville's squad overcame injuries to Al MacInnis and Pierre Turgeon with the emergence of Chris Pronger on defense and the now coined "Slovak Line" of Lubos Bartecko, Pavol Demitra and Michal Handzus -- which had a combined 167 points.

Pronger, who garnered awards for being the league's most valuable player and its top defenseman, was an impressive plus-53, to go along with his 14 goals, 48 assists and 92 penalty minutes. It didn't hurt the Blues that inexperienced goalie Roman Turek made all the necessary saves en route to 42 wins and a 1.95 GAA.

However, when the playoffs began, the Blues didn't have Demitra -- the team's leading point-getter -- because of post-concussion syndrome, and the Sharks eliminated them with a Game 7 win in St. Louis. St. Louis lost three games in a row during the series, something that hadn't happened the entire regular season.

Accentuating the positive, however, St. Louis had a dozen players with 10 or more goals, while only allowing 165 in the 82-game schedule. But in the end, the season will be remembered for unfulfilled promise because St. Louis was a team pegged for the Cup finals.

The Open Market: No pouting for Blues
When a team loses in the first round of the playoffs, complacency is rarely an issue, even with a team as good and young as St. Louis. General manager Larry Pleau has been, perhaps, the busiest man in the business this offseason, making moves at almost every position without altering the core of the roster.

	FREE AGENCY
	Key unsigned free agents: Lubos Bartecko, Michal Handzus, Bob Bassen, Kelly Chase, Dave Ellet, Stephane Richer Signings/offseason acquisitions: Dallas Drake, Mike Eastwood, Sean Hill, Tyson Nash, Dwayne Roloson, Bryce Salvador, Mike Van Ryn, Chris Murray, Todd Reirden

The biggest additions are Dallas Drake and Sean Hill, and although the price was steep -- both signed for $9 million over four seasons -- these two strengthen an already deep roster. Drake, a solid right wing, notched a career-high 45 points last season, and Hill had his best season as a pro for Carolina. If Hill stays healthy -- which is a concern -- he will relieve Pronger and MacInnis from the exhausting amount of ice time they log. The Blues defense was great last season, and it should be even better. Throw youngster Mike Van Ryn, signed as a free agent, and there is a great age balance as well.

World-class agitator Tyson Nash will return, and Dwayne Roloson was acquired as a possible backup to Roman Turek with the departure of Jamie McLennan in the expansion draft.

Bartecko and Handzus remain the pivotal unsigned free agents. Both are restricted, yet will command significant raises because of their breakout seasons. Pleau, however, seems to have everyone on the same page, and ugly holdouts do not seem likely. The most interesting question is whether Pleau will re-sign any of the veteran unrestricted free agents who played for the Blues last season. Looking at the budget and roster, don't expect a player like Stephane Richer to return.

How to improve: Turek remains the X-Factor
The Blues don't have to change a whole lot. They are deep and talented at all positions. If Pierre Turgeon stays healthy for the whole season, the offense will be even better, especially if Marty Reasoner continues to improve.

The real question mark is Turek and how much the Blues learned from the early playoff exit. Turek's numbers were incredible last season, even after a sluggish start. But the Blues played so well in front of him that his sterling stats might be a bit deceiving. He made all the necessary saves, but in the playoffs next season, he'll have to be better and needs to prove to his team he can steal games.

The experience of losing so early actually might set the Blues back a bit more than expected. Often, talented teams that develop into repeat Cup winners -- Islanders, Oilers, Penguins, Red Wings -- progress deep into the playoffs before winning the ultimate prize. The Blues learned a lot from the tough loss to San Jose, but it would have been more beneficial long-term to win at least a series.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.