5 Best Captains in St. Louis Blues History

He also led by example. After a successful first season with the team, head coach Brian Sutter challenged Hull to improve his conditioning to become an all-around better player. The winger listened, and after making the changes, scored 72 goals the following season.

Hull only wore the “C” for three seasons. The Blues never made it past the second round during his tenure as captain. However, he certainly put the Blues on the map as a scorer and set the standard as the captain.

#4: Alex Pietrangelo

If these rankings were based solely on Lord Stanley, the Ontario native would hold the top spot without question. Serving as captain from 2016-2020, Alex Pietrangelo became the first captain in franchise history to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Things did not start well for the defenseman’s leadership. A 2018 incident with the Dallas Stars saw Jamie Benn and Pietrangelo end up on the ice during a play, with Benn seemingly sitting on Pietrangelo. Critics felt Pietrangelo’s lack of response reflected poorly on the captain and the team.

The next season, however, Pietrangelo helped guide the team from last place in the league to a Stanley Cup championship. On the ice, he was a workhorse, averaging almost 26 minutes of ice time during the playoffs. Furthermore, his Game 7 goal proved to be the Cup-winning goal.

His time as captain and the team when he left in free agency after the 2020 season still stings to this day. However, being the first captain in franchise history to hoist Lord Stanley will always keep him in the top five.

#3: Al Arbour

Al Arbour was the first-ever captain of the Blues. He played in an era when defensemen were expected to play defense rather than score goals. Arbour did just that. He scored just two goals in his four seasons in St. Louis, but played great defense, even finishing fifth in Norris Trophy voting during the 1968-69 season.

As captain, the Ontario native led the Blues to one of the best inaugural seasons in NHL history. Arbour brought immediate credibility, poise, and a championship resume to the new organization. Behind his leadership, the Blues reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first three seasons in the league. While the team was swept each time, his leadership built a winning culture from scratch.

How valuable was Arbour’s leadership? As soon as he decided to hang up the skates, he was named the head coach of the team. The first captain in team history became their third head coach – a true testament to his leadership, something Blues fans still celebrate today.

#2 Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger‘s time in St. Louis was interesting in some ways. Fans did not like him at first because he was acquired in exchange for fan-favorite Brendan Shanahan. Yet, when he was traded, fans turned on the player they acquired, Eric Brewer. The Hart Trophy winner became a fan favorite in St. Louis, and it’s not hard to see why.

Pronger was named team captain in 1997, just two seasons after joining the team. The Ontario native led the Blues through one of the franchise’s most successful stretches. As a player, Pronger led by example. He was named an All-Star five times as a Blue. During the 1999-00 season, he won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman and the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. He was the first defenseman since Bobby Orr in 1972 to do so. No defenseman has won the Hart Trophy since Pronger, much less win the Hart and Norris.

The 1999-00 season was a special one for the Blues. The team set a franchise record with 114 points and won the Presidents’ Trophy. Aside from Pronger, many other Blues won awards: Head coach Joel Quenneville won the Jack Adams Award; Pavol Demitra won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy; and Roman Turek won the Jennings Trophy. A first-round exit dampened the historic season, but it was certainly a fun one, led by Pronger.

I considered putting Pronger at number one, given how great he was and how great his teams were. However, the lack of a Stanley Cup made me reconsider. Winning the Stanley Cup is not a deal breaker when it comes to topping this list, which is obvious considering the organization’s only Cup-winning captain was #4. However, to top this list, a captain needed to stand out especially. The best captain in Blues’ history should embody exactly what it means to wear the Blue Note.

Honorable Mentions

Before I unveil #1, let’s look at some honorable mentions.

Barclay Plager

Barclay Plager was the emotional heart and soul of the early expansion era, personifying the tough, rough-and-tumble identity of St. Louis hockey. Alongside his brothers, his fierce loyalty and physical sacrifice on the blue line made him a legendary fan favorite. His massive impact on the franchise’s culture was permanently recognized when his No. 8 jersey was retired and raised to the rafters.

Bernie Federko

Though he only wore the “C” for a single season at the tail end of his legendary run, Bernie Federko is arguably the greatest playmaker ever to wear the Blue Note. He provided a smooth, highly skilled counterpart to the team’s traditional gritty identity during a crucial transitional era for the roster. As the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, assists, and points, his brief captaincy represents ultimate franchise royalty.

David Backes

David Backes spearheaded the modern, hard-nosed resurgence of the Blues as a prototypical power-forward captain who led strictly by example. He guided the team to a Central Division title in 2012 and a memorable run to the Western Conference Final in 2016. His five-season tenure cemented his legacy as one of the top ten players in franchise history for games played, goals, and points.

#1: Brian Sutter

Brian Sutter did not regularly score 50-plus goals a season like Hull. He did not win the Stanley Cup like Pietrangelo. However, what puts Sutter atop this list is his skill, intensity, and the fact that he spent his entire 12-year career wearing the Blue Note. He captained the team for nine of those seasons.

Sutter did not just wear the “C.” He embodied the blue-collar, resilient identity of the organization and the city. He holds the franchise record for the longest tenure as captain, establishing a cultural standard of accountability and work ethic that defied Blues hockey norms.

Like captains before and after him, Sutter led by example. He played a physical game and was a regular visitor to the penalty box. However, he was also regularly lighting the lamp. He scored 303 goals in his career, including two 40-plus goal seasons. It was not uncommon to see the Alberta native drop the gloves one period, then score in another. Sutter stood up for his team and made the opponent pay the best way one can: by putting another tally on the scoreboard.

However, what truly separates Sutter from other team captains was how he kept the team competitive in the 1980s. The organization faced rumors of relocation due to budget constraints. Yet, the Blues remained competitive. They reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs every season in the 80s. Sutter helped the locker room block out distractions and play great hockey.

Like Arbour, Sutter’s impact did not end when he hung up the skates. After a shoulder injury forced him to retire early, the Blues immediately placed Sutter behind the bench as head coach. He continued to get the best out of his players, including the aforementioned discussion with Hull.

It is no secret why Sutter’s No. 11 hangs in the rafters at the Enterprise Center. It is not because of a statistical milestone or championship, but because he helped build the soul of the franchise. His legacy speaks for itself. He is the best captain in Blues’ history.

Robert Thomas Steps Into Big Shoes

Thomas is the latest in a long line of captains. He also steps into some very big shoes. We just looked at the top-five captains in team history, but there are plenty of other notable ones.

The “C” is not just a letter on a jersey. It symbolizes a great honor, but also a great responsibility. Sutter, Pronger, Arbour, Pietrangelo, Hull, and others made their mark as captain. Now, it is Thomas’s turn.