The best players to wear every jersey number in Blues history (2024)

This week, the staff at The Athletic NHL laid out the best players to wear every jersey number in NHL history.

By my count, there were 13 on the list who played for the Blues at one time: John Davidson (00), Jacques Plante (1), Doug Harvey (2), Peter Stastny (26), Martin Brodeur (30), Grant Fuhr (31), Pavol Demitra (38), David Backes (42), Chris Pronger (44), David Perron (57), Ryan O’Reilly (90), Doug Gilmour (93) and Wayne Gretzky (99).

Number selections, of course, can be a tricky thing because the list left off the most productive and popular Blue of all time: Brett Hull (16), who is No. 4 all-time in NHL history in goals scored (741). Sweet 16 went to Marcel Dionne, who’s just behind Hull at No. 5 all-time in goals (731) but ahead of him in points at No. 6 (1,771).

Several other Blues greats didn’t deserve to be on the league list, but they’re certainly the first players local fans think of when they see a particular number. So The Athletic St. Louis decided to put our own list together: the best players to wear every number in Blues history, with an emphasis on which guy it resonated with the most.

Some other things to keep in mind before we get started. There were several numbers worn by, let’s say, nondescript players, so they kind of win by default. And from Nos. 1-99, there are 19 numbers that have never been worn, so we’re going to skip right over those. They are: Nos. 52, 60, 66, 67, 69, 76, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98.

With that, here’s our list …

1: Glenn Hall

Since the Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded in 1965, Hall is one of only five players to win the playoff MVP on the team that lost the Stanley Cup final. “Mr. Goalie” did it in 1968, giving him the edge over Mike Liut (franchise-best 151 wins) and Brian Elliott (franchise-best 25 shutouts).

2: Al MacInnis

It’s hard to top Doug Harvey, who won the Norris Trophy seven times before joining the Blues in 1968-69, but MacInnis has a statue in front of Enterprise Center and his number in the rafters for a reason.

3: Al Arbour

Arbour was the original captain of the Blues in 1967 and coached them for a couple of seasons. But no discussion of No. 3 can happen without mention of Bobby Gassoff, who died tragically in 1977 and subsequently had this number retired in his honor.

4: Noel Picard

Picard was the player who famously tripped Boston’s Bobby Orr on the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in the 1970 final. He was truly one of the greatest characters in the history of the organization.

5: Bob Plager

No. 5 in your program and No. 1 in your hearts, Plager has been with the Blues every year of their existence as a player, coach, scout, advisor or ambassador. Barret Jackman, who played the second-most games in club history (803), also wore the number proud.

6: Jimmy Roberts

In the 1967 NHL expansion draft, all six teams had to select two goaltenders before any skaters, and the Blues took netminders Glenn Hall and Don Caley. But many consider Roberts, a defenseman who went No. 15 overall, to be the first true Blue.

7: Red Berenson

Several talented players have worn No. 7 over the years, including Garry Unger, Joey Mullen and Keith Tkachuk. But how can you go against the guy who scored six goals in a single game, as Red Berenson did against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1968?

8: Barclay Plager

Once called a “consummate competitor” by Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, Barclay Plager wore his heart on his sleeve as a player, coach and person before his untimely passing in 1988 at age 46.

9: Doug Gilmour

Gilmour got his Hall of Fame start with the Blues (354 points in 384 games), but was traded to Calgary at age 24 because of a civil suit against him. He played with seven organizations, but only in Toronto did he produce more than in St. Louis.

10: Dallas Drake

Drake was part of some good Blues teams in the early 2000s, but it was his stewardship as the club’s captain from 2005-07 that helped the organization through some dark days.

A fierce competitor, Dallas Drake was a captain for two seasons in St. Louis. (Tom Gannam / Associated Press)

11: Brian Sutter

Sutter was the epitome of toughness and what it took to be a captain, deservedly having his number retired. He then coached the team to 153 wins, which is the third-most in franchise history behind Joel Quenneville (307) and Ken Hitchco*ck (248).

12: Adam Oates

Oates only played 2 1/2 seasons in St. Louis, but his chemistry with Brett Hull helped create a magical time in Blues history. He had 90 assists in 1990-91, when Hull finished with a career-high 86 goals.

13: Bill Guerin

Guerin played only 61 games with the Blues in 2006-07, but had 28 goals in those 61 games. He was traded to San Jose, and the Blues used the first-round pick they got in return to take David Perron.

14: Doug Wickenheiser

Wickenheiser scored one of the biggest goals in Blues history: the game-winner in a 6-5 overtime victory over Calgary in the 1986 “Monday Night Miracle.” He was also an inspiration before his death from cancer in 1999 (age 37), and the 14 Fund became the backbone of the club’s charity efforts.

15: Craig Janney

Janney was the Blues’ answer at center after getting him from Boston for Adam Oates in 1992. While Janney did have a 106-point season with the Blues in 1992-93, he was not Oates.

16: Brett Hull

The best player in Blues history had 527 goals in 744 games with the organization, including 27 hat tricks. His name is synonymous with hockey in the city, creating legions of fans and introducing generations of young players to the game.

17: Gino Cavallini

One of two Cavallinis on the roster — along with brother Paul — Gino was a popular player for the club. He did have some success playing left wing on a line with Hull.

18: Tony Twist

Arguably one of the greatest enforcers in the history of the NHL, Twist was involved in 64 fights in 294 games with the Blues, according to Hockeyfights.com.

19: Brendan Shanahan

Shanahan was more than a “fan favorite,” he was a cult figure because of his skill and brawn (52 goals, 102 points and 212 penalty minutes in 1993-94). A shoutout also goes to Jay Bouwmeester, who picked the number in 2013 because he was a fan of Detroit’s No. 19, Steve Yzerman.

20: Alexander Steen

Steen was an underestimated addition when the Blues acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. He’s now fourth in club history in games played (765) and was instrumental in the Stanley Cup run.

“Steener” has been a Blue for 12 years now. (Jeff Curry / USA TODAY Sports)

21: Jeff Brown

Brown is the only Blues defenseman with multiple 20-goal seasons (two), and the 25 goals he netted in 1992-93 still stands as a single-season franchise record.

22: Jorgen Pettersson

Rick Meagher won a Selke Award, Brad Boyes had a 40-goal season and Kevin Shattenkirk was a solid offensive defenseman, but Pettersson still holds the Blues’ rookie record for goals (37) and points (73), set in 1980-81.

23: Rich Sutter

Alain Lemieux, Mario’s brother, wore this number from 1982-85, but through no fault of his own, he wasn’t as good as his brother. Rich Sutter might not have been as good as his brother, Brian, either, but he wore this number as long — and as well — as anyone in team history.

24: Bernie Federko

Federko had never even been to St. Louis when the Blues drafted him No. 7 overall in 1976, and other than a year in Detroit at the end of his career, he has never left it. That’s how much the franchise leader in games played (927), assists (721) and points (1,073) loves the city, and vice versa.

25: Chuck Lefley

Before Wayne Babych, Hull and Shanahan put up 50 goals in a single season, Lefley set the franchise record (43) in 1975-76.

26: Peter Stastny

Stastny had already written his Hall of Fame resume before he signed with the Blues in 1994, but it was an honor see the 37-year-old cap off his career with the Blues. His son, Paul, later wore the number from 2015-18.

27: Alex Pietrangelo

Depending on how his contract situation plays out, Pietrangelo could have his number retired and a statue in front of Enterprise Center. At age 30, he’s already No. 5 in franchise history in games played (758), No. 1 in assists by a defenseman (341) and has a Stanley Cup under his belt.

28: Bob Bassen

Steve duch*esne was a terrific puck-moving defenseman, but close your eyes and picture Bob Bassen checking an opponent into the boards and you’ll see this number on the back of his sweater.

29: Greg Millen

When penny-pinching owner Harry Ornest traded Mike Liut to Hartford in 1985, the Blues got a serviceable goalie back in Millen, who became the first goalie in team history to post three consecutive shutouts.

30: Jacques Plante

Plante had already won six Vezina trophies in Montreal before coming to St. Louis, but added a seventh for good measure in 1968-69, leading the NHL in goals-against average (1.96) and save percentage (.940). Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur is definitely worth a mention here, too.

31: Curtis Joseph

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 1989, Joseph might not have had the Stanley Cups and Vezina Trophies like Hall, Plante and Grant Fuhr (who also wore No. 31), but “Cujo” was arguably the most popular goalie the Blues ever had.

Curtis Joseph had some fine seasons with the Blues in the early to mid-’90s. (Steve Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)

32: Mike Eastwood

A future NHL general manager (Jim Nill) and a future head coach (Alain Vigneault) wore this number, but it’s most closely associated with Eastwood, the grinder who had it from 1998-2003.

33: Scott Pellerin

Pellerin wore No. 39 in 1997, then Kelly Chase returned for his second stint with the Blues and reclaimed the number. That’s not all Chase took back from Pellerin, who was also renting his home. Pellerin switched to No. 33 and wore it as long as any other Blues player (1999-2000).

34: Jake Allen

With 148 career wins for the Blues, Allen may catch Liut (151) for the franchise lead when hockey resumes. With 289 games played, he’s also creeping up on Liut (347) for the all-time games played record, too.

35: Brent Johnson

Johnson set the Blues’ rookie record for shutouts (5) and wins (19). He’s best remembered for blanking Chicago in three consecutive games in the first round of the 2002 playoffs.

36: Troy Brouwer

Brouwer’s time in St. Louis will always be linked to his game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Chicago in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals in 2016.

37: Jeff Finley

Finley played six seasons with the Blues during the Al MacInnis/Chris Pronger era, and was a steady defenseman who stood up for his teammates.

38: Pavol Demitra

One of the best trades in Blues history, Demitra was acquired from Ottawa for Christer Olsson in 1996. Demitra ranks No. 8 in club history in goals (204), No. 7 in assists (209) and No. 6 in points (493). He and Igor Korolev, who also wore No. 38, were both killed in a plane crash in 2011.

39: Kelly Chase

Many will argue that Doug Weight was the better player, and they’d be right, but it’s impossible to measure what Chase has meant to the Blues as a player, broadcaster and ambassador. His nickname is “Chaser,” but many simply call him “39.”

The consummate teammate, Kelly Chase. (Elsa Hasch / Allsport)

40: Carter Hutton

Hutton came to St. Louis as a backup to Allen, but at one point took over the starting job, and in fact led league in goals-against average (2.09) and save percentage (.931) in 2017-18.

41: Jaroslav Halak

Halak was part of GM Doug Armstrong’s first big trade, bringing him in from Montreal in 2011. He never lived up to the success he had taking the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference finals, but he did help the Blues win a Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed (165) in 2011-12.

42: David Backes

Named the 20th captain in Blues history in 2011, Backes ranks No. 7 in games played (727), goals (206) and points (460) in franchise history, and is No. 5 in penalty minutes (969).

43: Mike Van Ryn

Van Ryn played 69 games with the Blues, but may be better known as a current assistant coach who helped them win a Stanley Cup.

44: Chris Pronger

Pronger will be the eighth player in Blues history to have his number retired next season, and it’s long overdue for the only defenseman to win the Hart Trophy since Bobby Orr.

Hull on Pronger: “I would fathom to say he’d be in the top 10 dirtiest players to ever play the game and then to add that with the unbelievable skill he had, that’s quite a combination”

Those with retired numbers discuss No. 44 joining them in the rafters https://t.co/6hDnQrQPMX

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 16, 2020

45: Cody Rudkowski

Rudkowski was one of seven goalies the Blues used in 2002-03. He played 30 minutes in one game, got the win and never played in the NHL again.

46: Roman Polak

“Don’t open the Roman Polak door,” Blues coach Ken Hitchco*ck once famously said. Polak’s pummeling of San Jose’s Justin Braun in the 2012 playoffs was a memorable moment, and the sixth-round pick was a solid player for eight seasons in St. Louis.

47: Ladislav Nagy

Nagy was in the trade package that went to Arizona for Keith Tkachuk, and he had a nice career with the Coyotes.

48: Scott Young

One of the better American-born players to play in the NHL, Young netted 40 goals in 2000-01 with the Blues.

49: Ivan Barbashev

An underrated player on the Blues’ Stanley Cup roster, Barbashev played a physical role that took its toll on the team’s four postseason opponents.

50: Jordan Binnington

Binnington’s rise to the top in 2019, going from fourth on the Blues’ depth chart to leading the team to a Stanley Cup, is one of the most inspiring stories to ever unfold in the NHL.

Jordan Binnington’s name is forever etched in Blues history. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

51: Derrick Pouliot

After signing with the Blues last summer, Pouliot may be best known for a missed hip-check that got him sent back to the minors.

53: Austin Poganski

Poganski has played just one game with the Blues, but seems to have a future with the club. If not, perhaps he’ll make it in pickleball.

In a pickle: Austin Poganski might force the Blues to make a difficult decision in training camp. #stlblues https://t.co/10SnybrV0w

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 21, 2019

54: Mike Glumac

If you don’t remember Glumac, then you probably won’t remember that he switched from No. 54 in 2006 to No. 37 in 2007.

55: Colton Parayko

With all due respect to St. Louis native Cam Janssen, who wore this number, Parayko is an elite-level defenseman. Plus, “Colt-55” has a nice ring to it.

56: Magnus Paajarvi

Paajarvi came to St. Louis in the trade that sent Perron to Edmonton in 2014 and was a serviceable forward in five seasons with the Blues.

57: David Perron

Perron showed up in St. Louis in 2007 at age 19 and was handed No. 57. Now in his third stint with the Blues and a Stanley Cup winner, @DP57 is still rocking the number.

58: Dan Hinote

The longtime Colorado forward brought a veteran presence to the Blues, and before changing to No. 13, Hinote briefly was the only Blue to wear No. 58.

59: Jeff Hoggan

Hoggan didn’t make his NHL debut with the Blues until age 27, but the wait seemed worth it in 2005-06, picking up two goals in 52 games.

61: Cory Stillman

Stillman had 119 points in 171 games with the Blues, and when they traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a second-round draft pick in 2003, the club converted that into Backes.

62: Martin Rucinsky

Rucinsky had two stints with the Blues and wore three different numbers, also including Nos. 22 and 26.

63: Justin Papineau

Papineau scored five goals for the Blues in a preseason game against Boston on Sept. 19, 2002, but had just two goals in 12 regular-season games with the club.

64: Nail Yakupov

The Blues took a flier on the 2012 No. 1 overall pick, acquiring him from Edmonton for prospect Zach Pochiro and a conditional third-round pick in 2016. But with only three goals in 40 games, the experiment lasted just one year.

65: Cam Paddock

Paddock scored a goal in his NHL debut with the Blues against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 14, 2008, but wound up playing only 16 games in the league.

68: Eric Nickulas

Yeah, I’ve never heard of him, either.

70: Oskar Sundqvist

When Sundqvist arrived from Pittsburgh in 2017, the odds were he’d be another player we’d soon forget. But his dramatic improvement has led to fans stitching his last name and number on the back of their own sweaters.

The unheralded Sundqvist has emerged with the Blues. (Jeff Curry / USA TODAY Sports)

71: Vladimir Sobotka

Sobotka wore No. 17 in his first stint with the Blues, but when he went to play in the KHL in 2014, Jaden Schwartz took the number to honor his sister, Mandi, who died of leukemia in 2011. When Sobotka came back three years later, he flipped No. 17 and made it No. 71.

72: Justin Faulk

Like Sobotka, Faulk flipped his number when he came to St. Louis as well. He wore No. 27 in Carolina from 2013-2019, but since that was Pietrangelo’s number, Faulk became the first to wear No. 72 in team history.

73: Kenny Agostino

Agostino was called up for seven games in 2016-17 and was the first and only player to wear No. 73.

74: T.J. Oshie

Coming out of the NHL lockout, the 2005 draft was a 30-team lottery, and the Blues missed out on No. 1 overall pick Sidney Crosby. They got Oshie at No. 24, and while he certainly wasn’t Crosby, his popularity helped the Blues survive some lean years.

75: Ryan Reaves

The Blues have had a long list of heavyweights, and Reaves became one of the toughest in the league. As a result, fans adored him.

77: Pierre Turgeon

Turgeon was one of the most skilled centers the Blues have ever had, helping them to a Presidents’ Trophy in 2000 and a Western Conference final in 2001.

78: Beau Bennett

Bennett may have played only six games with the Blues in 2017-18, but he makes this list because he once pulled up to training camp in a minivan.

79: Adam Cracknell

Cracknell is relatively famous for playing on the “CPR” line with Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves. Together, they pumped life into the team during the the 2012-13 season.

80: Steve McLaren

McLaren played in just six games with the Blues in 2003-04 — and was involved involved in five fights.

82: Zach Sanford

Before Sanford switched to No. 12, he wore this number in 2017. Since Cade Fairchild was the only other player to wear it and only played five games, Sanford wins by default.

86: Nikita Soshnikov

Soshnikov’s tenure with the Blues was derailed by concussion issues, but he did play five regular-season games during the 2018-19 Stanley Cup season.

90: Ryan O’Reilly

One of the greatest trades in Blues history was acquiring O’Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres in 2018, and after telling Armstrong, “Let’s go win a Cup!” he backed up his words by winning one, along with the Conn Smythe Trophy.

91: Vladimir Tarasenko

Tarasenko was the No. 16 pick in the 2010 NHL draft, and he has lived up to the hype, leading the Blues in goals for five straight years before an injury sidelined him this season.

Tarasenko has been a consistent offensive force for the Blues. (Joe Puetz / NHLI via Getty Images)

93: Petr Nedved

Nedved played only 19 regular-season games with the Blues before being sent to New York as compensation for the organization signing Mike Keenan as GM and head coach.

99: Wayne Gretzky

“The Great One” received a two-minute-plus standing ovation when he played his first home game in St. Louis in 1996. He would play just 18 regular-season games and 13 playoff games in a Blues uniform before a dispute with Mike Keenan led him to sign with the New York Rangers a free agent. When NHL fans hear Gretzky’s name, they understandably don’t think about St. Louis, but the city was thrilled to have him, as brief as it was.

(Top photo of Hull and Gretzky: Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios)