Blues of Saint-Louis

The Blues of Saint-Louis is a professional team of the National league of hockey located at Saint-Louis in Missouri in the United States.

History

Entered the LNH : 1967

Arena : Scottrade Center, known before under the name of Kiel Center, then Savvis Center

Colors of the uniform : Blue, white and gold

Logo : A musical note with wings with lines leaving towards the line

Participations in the finales the Cut Stanley 3: 1968 (losers), 1969 (losers), 1970 (losers)

History of the frankness

The beginnings (1967-1970)

The Blues were one of the six teams added to the LNH during the expansion of 1967, with the North Stars of Minnesota, the Kings of Los Angeles, the Flyers of Philadelphia, the Penguins de Pittsburgh and the Seals of California, when the league doubled its size. They are, with Kings of Los Angeles, one of the only teams of expansion of 1967 not to have never gained the Cut Stanley, Flyers of Philadelphia gained it in 1974 and 1975, Penguins de Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and California Seals/Minnesota North Stars, which amalgamated, gained it in 1999 under the name of Stars of Dallas.

Saint-Louis was the last of the teams of expansion to enter the league officially. They were selected in front of Baltimore on the insistence of the Blackhawks of Chicago (had by the influential Wirtz family of Chicago), which wanted to leave the decayed Saint Louis Arena, which they also had, with a new frankness. The first owners of the team were the business men Sid Solomon Jr, his son Solomon III and Robert L. Wolfson who saw themselves granting the frankness in 1966. Sid Solomon III convinced his father, initially reticent, to make an offer for the team. Solomon spent then several million dollars to improve the 38 year old arena, which was not any more to the standards of the LNH since the years 1940. The first evening, the arena east amounted 15 000 places, 3 000 of more than with the beginning of the year 1967. She forever ceased being restored, and almost had 20 000 places when the Blues left it in 1994.

The Blues, trained at the beginning by Lynn Patrick and then by Scotty Bowman, appeared of class in weak Western division. The formula of the series guaranteed to a team of expansion to belong to the finale of the Stanley Cut, and the Blues played for the Stanley Cut in each one of their the first three seasons, although they gained only one part in their three series, losing vis-a-vis the Bruins of Boston in 1970 and with the Canadian of Montreal in 1968 and 1969. The first Blues included/understood the veterans Doug Harvey, Don McKenney and Dickie Moore, the tandem of guards veterans Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante which proved their endurance by gaining the Trophée Vézina in 1969, behind a good defense cash the defensive attacker Jim Roberts and solids defenders, the brothers Bob and Barclay Plager. The rejection of the Rangers of New York, Gord Berenson became the first star of the Blues in the center, whereas Phil Goyette gained the Trophée Lady Byng in 1970. The skating rink always was filled, and became one of the noisiest buildings of the LNH; the waiting list for the tickets of season competed later with that of the Packers de Green Bay of the National league of football.

During this time, Solomon gained in the league a reputation of owner of player. He gave cars to his players, signed differed contracts and paid voyages in Florida. The players like Plant, Hall and Harvey were not accustomed to be treated like kings, and felt that the only means of thanking Solomon was all to give on the ice each evening.

Difficulties of the Blues (1970-77)

Years 1970 were less good for the Blues. Continual imbalance carried out the league to transfer Blackhawks in Western Division in 1970-71, and to introduce a format of series which resulted in to exclude the teams from expansion of the three following finales. Bowman left for Montreal in 1971 after an argument with Sid Solomon III, which started to hold a more important role in the team. The oldest high-speed motorboats such as Hall, Plant and Goyette took their retirement or were exchanged, just like Berenson, exchange with the Red Wings de Détroit against Garry Unger. Unger marked thirty goals or more during eight consecutive seasons and beat the record of the LNH of the greatest number of played consecutive parts, but with share Plager in defense, the team was light, and division was dominated soon by Chicago and Flyers of Philadelphia. The Blues of Saint-Louis missed the series for the first time in 1974. The realignment with placed the team in Smythe Division the following year and the team obtained good seasons with the attacker Chuck Lefley and the return of Berenson, but division was in general so weak that it had become synonymous the mediocrity - the Blues gained the title of division in 1977 whereas they finished with 5 parts under the bar of the 50% - and they missed the series at the time two following seasons behind disastrous goalkeepers.

Meanwhile, the frankness was with two fingers to crumble financially. This was partly due to the pressures of the Worldwide association of hockey, but mainly to the made financial decisions when Solomon obtained the frankness. The differed contracts expired when the performances of the Blues started to bend. At a certain time, Solomon seriously considered the bankruptcy, and made cuts in the personnel of the team, reduced to three employees. One of them was Emile Francis, which was used of president, trainer and managing director, and swept even the arena from time to time.

The era Purina (1977-86)

Solomon finally found a purchaser for Saint-Louis in the person of the giant of the food for animals Ralston Purina into 1977 which has famous the Arena in “Checkerdome”. Robert L. Wolfson helped to assemble the transfer to Ralston Purina, which made it possible to keep the Blues in Saint-Louis. After having known one season of only 18 victories (always the worst season in the history of the frankness), the Blues were qualified for the series in 1980, the first of 25 consecutive participations. In 1981, they were second the best equips with the league in regular season, with Berenson as new trainer and the young person stars, in particular the marker of 54 goals Wayne Babych, the future member of the Temple of famous the Bernie Federko (which will carry out the team for the goals), inspiring it leader Brian Sutter and the goalkeeper of concession Mike Liut. The Blues fell flat in eliminatory series, losing in six parts vis-a-vis Rangers of New York in the second round. The Blues slipped silently under the bar of the 50%, but they nevertheless took part in the series in 1982 and 1983, although they finished in lower part from the 50% in the two seasons. Purina lost approximately 1,8 million dollars per annum during its possession of the Blues, but it took the losses with philosophy, having begun again the club for reasons of civic responsibility. In 1983, the president of always of Purina, R. Hal Dean, took his retirement. Its successor wanted to center himself on the activities of food for animals, and was not interested by hockey. He saw a division which lost money and put the Blues on the market. The Blues did not choose anybody with the fishing out of 1983 of the LNH, because Purina did not send of representative; the firm basically gave up the team. It finally found a purchaser: a group of investors carried out by the founder of the Worldwide association of hockey and the Oilers d' Edmonton, Bill Hunter. Hunter then made projects to move the team with Saskatoon (Saskatchewan). However, the LNH did not want to lose a market as large as Saint-Louis and prevented the business. Hunter padlocked then Checkerdome and delivered the team to the league. The team was intended for the contraction in July when Harry Ornest, a business man based with Los Angeles was able to save the frankness at the last time. Ornest immediately brought back the name of Saint-Louis Arena.

Ornest carried out the Blues with a tightened budget, but the team returned in the row almost immediately. Doug Gilmour, which was fished out by Saint-Louis in 1982, emerged like a superstar. However, whereas the Blues had remained competitive, they were unable to keep all their young players. Most of the time, several of the young Blues finished in the rows of the Flames of Calgary, and the director of the Flames, Al MacNeil, was always greeted with fear. In fact, several young stars of the Blues, such as Rob Warbling and Gilmour, were the principal wheels of the Flames in 1989 when they gained the Stanley cut. Sutter and Federko were probably the only untouchable ones. In 1986, they reached the semi-final of the league against the Flames. The goal in prolongation of Doug Wickenheiser in the 6th part to crown a furious increase remains one of the more great moments in the history of the team, but they lost seventh part 2 to 1. After this season, Ornest sold the team with a group carried out by the business man of Saint-Louis Michael Shanahan.

On the way towards new the arena (1987-96)

The Blues kept their race in the end of the year 1980 and with the beginning of the year 1990. The managing director Ron Charon, one of most astute of the league, engaged inter alia the Brett Hull, Adam Oates, Curtis Joseph, Brendan Shanahan and Al MacInnis. Although they were a serious competitor for this period, the Blues reached the final of conference only once (in 1986). Successes of the team were however sufficient so that a consortium of 19 companies buys the team. They also provided the capital to build Kiel Center (today the Scottrade Center), which opened in 1994.

“The Brett Golden delicious” remained one of the largest high-speed motorboats of the league and a sensational marker, collecting 86 goals in 1990-91 - third behind only Wayne Gretzky (which briefly played with the Blues of Saint-Louis in 1996) in the history of the NHL (Gretzky collected 92 goals in 1981-82 and 87 goals in 1982-83). Only the “ Great One ” found the net more often than Hull over three seasons given. The Blues were the second best team in the regular season in 1990-91, but the defeat in second round vis-a-vis North Stars of Minnesota was revealing their difficulties in series, which continued throughout the decade, leading at the time of recruitment of Mike Keenan.

Trophy President at the cellar (1997-2006)

“Iron Mike” Keenan was engaged as managing director and trainer before the shortened season of 1995. It was presented as “the trainer of the series” who could solve the problems of the Blues in eliminatory series. It instituted major changes, of which the exchanges which sent the favorites of the partisans Brendan Shanahan and Curtis Joseph in other teams, just as the acquisition of legendary but growing old Gretzky and the guard Grant Fuhr, both coming from the collapse of Kings of Los Angeles (Gretzky left for Rangers New York like free agent without compensation after the season). In spite of all that it was supposed to achieve, its series with Saint-Louis are summarized with an elimination with the first turn in 1995 and one with the second in 1996. Neither the partisans nor the owners of the team liked Keenan or what it made, and it was returned on December 19th, 1996. Charon was reinstated as provisional managing director for the remainder of the season, and the current managing director Larry Pleau was committed on June 9th, 1997. But that did not prevent Hull, which had endured an interminable argument with Keenan, from leaving for the Stars Dallas in 1998, or it gained the Stanley cut the following year.

The defender Chris Pronger (acquired of Whalers de Harford in 1995 against Shanahan), Pavol Demitra, Pierre Turgeon, Al MacInnis and the guard Roman Turek allowed the Blues to remain a séreux competitor. In 1999-2000, they had the best card of the LNH during the regular season, gaining the trophy President, but were surprised by the Sharks de San Jose in the first round in seven parts. In 2001, the Blues were qualified for the final of the Western conference before being inclined in five parts vis-a-vis the future champion, the Avalanche of Colorado.

In spite of the years of mediocrity and the mark never “to pass at the following stage”, the Blues had a presence in series each year of 1980 to 2004 - the second longer sequence active in the North-American professional sports at the time. With an exhaustion of talent during the recent years and a situation of unstable owner, the Blues finished the season 2005-06 with their worst card in 27 years. They missed the series for the fourth time in the history of the frankness. Also, for the first time in the history of the club, the normally excellent support of the spectators of Saint-Louis started to disappear, with multitudes of approximately 12 000 spectators, which is far from the normal (approximately 18 000 people in an arena of 19 500 places) and a sign which the partisans lost the faith in the capacity of the team with player of the hockey of quality.

The heir to Wal-Mart Bill Laurie bought the Blues in 1998, but on June 17th, 2005, it announced that it would sell the team, after the years of bad choice of personnel by his managing director Larry Pleau and of what much sees like a negligence of the team on behalf of Laurie, former player of basketball, which wanted to have a team of NBA that it forever received. September 29th, 2005, it was announced that Laurie had signed an agreement to sell the Blues in Dave Checketts. November 14th, 2005, the Blues announced that the group of Capital Checketts, Sports Partners, had been withdrawn from the negotiations to buy the team. December 27th, 2005, it was announced that the Blues had signed a letter of intent to negotiate exclusively with General Sports and Entertainment, LLC. However, after the period of exclusiveness, Checketts returned in the race. March 24th, 2006, Laurie completed the sale of the Blues and of the lease of Savvis Center with Capital Checketts, Sports Partners (SCP) and TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. Checketts named John Davidson at once chair of team, placing Pleau with an especially advisory role. The former goalkeeper of Rangers made some transfers quickly, engaging Jay McKee, Bill Guerin and Manny Legacé, of the agents free, and bringing back Doug Weight to Saint-Louis after a short (and productive) halt as a Caroline. Davidson tries to build a strong base American players with the Blues.

Season of rebuilding: today (2006-07)

According to disappointing the season 2005-06, which saw the Blues having the worst card of the LNH, the new direction of the team stressed that the goal of the team was to have a competitive team for the Stanley Cut in the next years, but as reminding the partisans as this year would be fixed on the rebuilding of the frankness. At the beginning of the season 2006, the Blues seemed competitive in the Central Division. However, of the wounds obstructed their season (their the first three defenders, Barret Jackman, Christian Bäckman and McKee - all were replaced at the beginning of the season), and the absence of a true striker their harmed. The crowd of 17 500 people for the part of opening to Scottrade Center (whom they gained against Boston) is a notable fact since that the Cardinals received the Mets of New York to the stage Busch at the same time, and it is a sign which hockey is of return in “the city of the Baseball”. However, the team sank quickly, as their defeat from 5 to 1 vis-a-vis Detroit shows it, the evening or the team withdrew the pullover of Bret Hull in front of a full house.

The support of the partisans was slow during first half of the marketing year 2006, for two reasons: Cardinals of Saint-Louis gain the world Séries and divert the attention far from the Blues, and their weak play of the beginning of the season has like result an absence of the partisans to buy tickets like Christmas present. The calendar year ends in a series of 11 consecutive defeats. Many partisans of hockey and experts speculated that the best Christmas present than Checketts and Davidson could make with the Blues would be to return the trainer as a chief Mike Kitchen, in the hope that a new trainer could light a fire under the note. December 11th, 2006, the Blues announced that Kitchen was returned and that it would be replaced by the former trainer of Kings of Los Angeles Andy Murray. After having lost important parts, the Blues started in the middle of December to take a new direction.

Murray made things to shake its forces by changing the trios just as by encouraging the defenders offensive, like Dennis Wideman, Eric Brewer and Christian Bäckman to be played more in the offensive zone, from time to time leading even to an attack with three or four. January 4th, 2007, the Blues had a card of seven victories and three defeats in their ten last parts, the best card of the LNH. The Blues also equalized the record of the LNH concerning the greatest number of parts without to have conceded of goal during the first time. The number of parts was of 12, the number of part since Andy Murray replaced Mike Kitchen as trainer. Certain parts of the success of the Blues were allotted to the level remarkable play young hopes which are or were recalled of Peoria, in the American League, in particular David Backes and Lee Stempniak. The good play of Bill Guerin and Manny Legace also contributed to these successes.

After the Blues beat Sharks de San Jose 1 to 0 on January 20th, 2007, the Blues posted a card of 12 victories since December 19th. This card was best LNH, and brought back them to eight points of the 8th place which gives right to the last ticket for the series in the Conference of the West.

The change in the direction mainly was successful, with the card of the Blues at 17-7-3 from December 19th to February 16th. The Blues gained vis-a-vis best the teams during this period, including the Stars of Dallas, the Ducks d' Anaheim, the Red Wings de Détroit, the Sharks de San Jose, the Predators of Nashville, the Sabers of Buffalo, the Devils of the New Jersey and the Penguins de Pittsburgh. Moreover, the Blues recorded six victories by white play during these two months, which testifies to the good play of Manny Legace. The number of supporters of the Blues in grown because of Murray which was at 8 points of the series, after having passed a good part of the season in the cellar of the league. The direction did many promotions, in particular the ceremonies of the 40e birthday of the Blues, and, the team playing well, the spectators returned of number (more 15 000 of average).

February 24th, 2007, the Blues prolonged the contract of the defender Eric Brewer for four springtides. They also made sign their guard number one Manny Legace for a two seasons extension. Right before the deadline of the exchanges in 2007, the Blues exchanged Bill Guerin in Sharks de San Jose, Keith Takchuk with the Thrashers of Atlanta and Dennis Wideman in Bruins of Boston against a set of hopes and choice of first round in 2007 and 2008.

Players

Current manpower

On October 14th 2007

With the temple of famous the

Doug Harvey (allowed in 1973)
Dickie Moore (allowed in 1974)
Glenn Hall (allowed in 1975)
Jacques Plants (allowed in 1978)
Peter Stastny (allowed in 1998)
Wayne Gretzky (allowed in 1999)
Joe Mullen (allowed in 2000)
Dale Hawerchuk (allowed in 2001)
Bernie Federko (allowed in 2002)
Grant Fuhr (allowed in 2003)
Al MacInnis (allowed in 2007)

Captains

Al Arbor 1967-70
Gordon Berenson & Barclay Plager 1970-71
Barclay Plager 1971-76
no captain 1976-77
Red Berenson 1977-78
Barry Gibbs 1978-79
Brian Sutter 1979-88
Bernie Federko 1988-89
Rick Meagher 1989-90
Scott Stevens 1990-91
Garth Butcher 1991-92
Brett Hull 1992-95
Brett Hull & Shayne Corson & Wayne Gretzky 1995-96
no captain 1996-97
Chris Pronger 1997-2003; Al MacInnis (temporary captain) 2002-03
Al MacInnis 2003-2005
Dallas Drake 2005-2007 Vacant
2007

Not to forget

Withdrawn numbers

(Note: Bob Plager number 5 and Doug Wickenheiser number 14 is honoured by the team by a banner but are not officially withdrawn. After the death of Wickenheiser in 1999, the number is withdrawn non-officiellement: the last player to have endorsed this number is Geoff Courtnall.)

Choice of first round

1968 : Gary Edwards (6th)
1969: No
1970: No
1971: Gene Carr (4th)
1972: Wayne Merrick (9th)
1973: John Davidson (5th)
1974: No
1975: No
1976: Bernie Federko (7th)
1977: Scott Campbell (9th)
1978: Wayne Babych (3rd)
1979: Perry Turnbull (2nd)
1980: Rick Wilson (12th)
1981: Marty Ruff (20th)
1982: No
1983: No
1984: No
1985: No
1986: Jocelyn Lemieux (10th)
1987: Keith Osborne (12th)
1988: Rod Brind' Love (9th)
1989: Jason Marshall (9th)
1990: no
1991: No
1992: No
1993: No
1994: No
1995: No
1996: Marty Reasoner (14th)
1997: No
1998: Christian Backman (24e)
1999: Barrett Jackman (17th)
2000: Jeff Taffe (30e)
2001: No
2002: No
2003: Shawn Beautiful (30e)
2004: Marek Schwarz (17th)
2005: T.J. Oshie (24e)
2006: Erik Johnson (1st) and Patrik Berglund (25e)
2007: Lars Eller (13th), Ian Sticks (18th) and David Perron (26e)

Leaders in the markers

Here signal 10 of the best markers in the history of the frankness. Notes: Played POS=Position, Left PJ=, B=Buts, A=Assistance, Pts=Points, P/P=Points by part