1996–97 St. Louis Blues season

The highlight of the 1996–97 St. Louis Blues season was, after losing Wayne Gretzky the Blues were in turmoil as an ugly public feud between Brett Hull and coach Mike Keenan developed. This was the last season until early 2009, that a huge Blue note would appear at center ice.

1996–97 St. Louis Blues
Division4th Central
Conference6th Western
1996–97 record36–35–11
Home record17–20–4
Road record19–15–7
Goals for236
Goals against239
Team information
General managerMike Keenan (Oct-Dec)
Ron Caron (Dec-Apr)
CoachMike Keenan (Oct-Dec)
Jim Roberts (Dec-Jan)
Joel Quenneville (Jan-Apr)
CaptainVacant
ArenaKiel Center
Average attendance16,806
Minor league affiliate(s)Worcester IceCats
Baton Rouge Kingfish
Team leaders
GoalsBrett Hull (42)
AssistsPierre Turgeon (49)
PointsBrett Hull (82)
Penalty minutesMike Peluso (158)
Plus/minusChris Pronger (+15)
WinsGrant Fuhr (33)
Goals against averageGrant Fuhr (2.72)

Offseason

On July 21, Wayne Gretzky's short tenure with the Blues ended when he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier.[1]

Regular season

The Blues were in turmoil as an ugly public feud between Brett Hull and Coach Mike Keenan developed, as the Blues got off to a slow start. On December 19 the Keenan era would come to a sudden end as he is fired as GM and Coach. Eventually he would be replaced by assistant coach Jim Roberts.

Roberts' stint as interim head coach lasted nine games, as the team would hire Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Joel Quenneville to serve as the team's head coach. The change worked with Quenneville behind the bench as the Blues recovered and made the playoffs for the 18th straight season with a 36–35–11 record. However, once again the Blues would make a quick exit in the playoffs as they are beaten by the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.[2]

Final standings

Central Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
12Dallas Stars8248268252198104
23Detroit Red Wings8238261825319794
35Phoenix Coyotes823837724024383
46St. Louis Blues8236351123623983
58Chicago Blackhawks8234351322321081
611Toronto Maple Leafs823044823027368

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Colorado AvalanchePAC8249249277205107
2Dallas StarsCEN8248268252198104
3Detroit Red WingsCEN8238261825319794
4Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC8236331324523385
5Phoenix CoyotesCEN823837724024383
6St. Louis BluesCEN8236351123623983
7Edmonton OilersPAC823637925224781
8Chicago BlackhawksCEN8234351322321081
9Vancouver CanucksPAC823540725727377
10Calgary FlamesPAC823241921423973
11Toronto Maple LeafsCEN823044823027368
12Los Angeles KingsPAC8228431121426867
13San Jose SharksPAC822747821127862

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Playoffs

The Blues lost 4 games to 2 to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1996–97 regular season[4]
October: 5–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 4, 19964–2Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 6, 19961–4Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 9, 19963–1@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)2–1–0Recap
4WOctober 11, 19963–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)3–1–0Recap
5LOctober 12, 19963–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)3–2–0Recap
6WOctober 17, 19966–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)4–2–0Recap
7LOctober 18, 19961–2@ New York Rangers (1996–97)4–3–0Recap
8LOctober 20, 19962–3San Jose Sharks (1996–97)4–4–0Recap
9WOctober 22, 19962–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)5–4–0Recap
10LOctober 24, 19964–6@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)5–5–0Recap
11LOctober 26, 19964–6Washington Capitals (1996–97)5–6–0Recap
12LOctober 30, 19963–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)5–7–0Recap
November: 8–4–0 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13LNovember 1, 19962–4Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)5–8–0Recap
14WNovember 3, 19966–3Dallas Stars (1996–97)6–8–0Recap
15LNovember 5, 19963–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)6–9–0Recap
16WNovember 8, 19964–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)7–9–0Recap
17WNovember 9, 19963–2@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)8–9–0Recap
18WNovember 14, 19965–3Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)9–9–0Recap
19WNovember 16, 19962–0Calgary Flames (1996–97)10–9–0Recap
20WNovember 17, 19964–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)11–9–0Recap
21LNovember 19, 19962–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)11–10–0Recap
22WNovember 21, 19964–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1996–97)12–10–0Recap
23LNovember 23, 19961–3Florida Panthers (1996–97)12–11–0Recap
24WNovember 27, 19963–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)13–11–0Recap
December: 4–9–2 (home: 2–6–0; road: 2–3–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25LDecember 1, 19963–4San Jose Sharks (1996–97)13–12–0Recap
26LDecember 3, 19960–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)13–13–0Recap
27LDecember 5, 19960–3Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)13–14–0Recap
28WDecember 6, 19964–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)14–14–0Recap
29WDecember 8, 19963–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)15–14–0Recap
30TDecember 11, 19965–5 OT@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)15–14–1Recap
31LDecember 13, 19961–4Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)15–15–1Recap
32LDecember 15, 19960–8Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)15–16–1Recap
33LDecember 17, 19963–5@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)15–17–1Recap
34LDecember 19, 19960–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)15–18–1Recap
35LDecember 21, 19960–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)15–19–1Recap
36WDecember 22, 19967–4Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)16–19–1Recap
37TDecember 26, 19964–4 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)16–19–2Recap
38LDecember 27, 19962–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)16–20–2Recap
39WDecember 29, 19964–2Boston Bruins (1996–97)17–20–2Recap
January: 8–3–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 7–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40TJanuary 2, 19972–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1996–97)17–20–3Recap
41TJanuary 3, 19972–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)17–20–4Recap
42WJanuary 5, 19975–3@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)18–20–4Recap
43LJanuary 7, 19972–5Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)18–21–4Recap
44WJanuary 9, 19974–3@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)19–21–4Recap
45LJanuary 11, 19971–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)19–22–4Recap
46WJanuary 15, 19974–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)20–22–4Recap
47WJanuary 20, 19976–4@ New York Islanders (1996–97)21–22–4Recap
48WJanuary 23, 19974–3Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)22–22–4Recap
49WJanuary 25, 19978–1@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)23–22–4Recap
50LJanuary 27, 19971–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)23–23–4Recap
51WJanuary 29, 19974–0@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)24–23–4Recap
52WJanuary 30, 19975–2@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)25–23–4Recap
February: 3–6–4 (home: 3–4–2; road: 0–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53LFebruary 1, 19971–4Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)25–24–4Recap
54TFebruary 4, 19971–1 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)25–24–5Recap
55WFebruary 6, 19976–4Dallas Stars (1996–97)26–24–5Recap
56TFebruary 8, 19973–3 OT@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)26–24–6Recap
57LFebruary 10, 19972–4Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)26–25–6Recap
58WFebruary 13, 19974–1New York Rangers (1996–97)27–25–6Recap
59LFebruary 15, 19972–5Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)27–26–6Recap
60WFebruary 17, 19974–2Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)28–26–6Recap
61TFebruary 20, 19971–1 OTOttawa Senators (1996–97)28–26–7Recap
62TFebruary 22, 19972–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (1996–97)28–26–8Recap
63LFebruary 23, 19973–5Calgary Flames (1996–97)28–27–8Recap
64LFebruary 25, 19972–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)28–28–8Recap
65LFebruary 27, 19972–3 OT@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)28–29–8Recap
March: 5–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
66LMarch 5, 19972–3@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)28–30–8Recap
67LMarch 9, 19971–4Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)28–31–8Recap
68WMarch 11, 19974–3@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)29–31–8Recap
69WMarch 13, 19974–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)30–31–8Recap
70TMarch 14, 19974–4 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)30–31–9Recap
71LMarch 17, 19972–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)30–32–9Recap
72WMarch 20, 19974–1Hartford Whalers (1996–97)31–32–9Recap
73LMarch 23, 19971–4Dallas Stars (1996–97)31–33–9Recap
74LMarch 25, 19972–3@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)31–34–9Recap
75WMarch 27, 19972–1Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)32–34–9Recap
76WMarch 30, 19973–2Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)33–34–9Recap
April: 3–1–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77TApril 1, 19971–1 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)33–34–10Recap
78TApril 3, 19975–5 OTNew York Islanders (1996–97)33–34–11Recap
79LApril 6, 19970–2New Jersey Devils (1996–97)33–35–11Recap
80WApril 9, 19971–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)34–35–11Recap
81WApril 10, 19975–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)35–35–11Recap
82WApril 13, 19973–1@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)36–35–11Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs[4]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings: Red Wings win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 16, 19972–0@ Detroit Red WingsBlues lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 18, 19971–2@ Detroit Red WingsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 20, 19972–3Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 22, 19974–0Detroit Red WingsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 25, 19972–5@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 3–2Recap
6LApril 27, 19971–3Detroit Red WingsRed Wings win 4–2Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
  • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16Brett HullRW77424082−910627942
77Pierre TurgeonC69254974412511202
14Geoff CourtnallLW821740573866314023
17[lower-alpha 1]Joe MurphyRW75202545−1696112−210
10Jim CampbellRW682320433684101−16
2Al MacInnisD721330432656123−14
32Stephane MatteauLW741620361150500000
44Chris ProngerD79112435151436112022
37Harry YorkC741418321245000−12
5Igor KravchukD82424287352000−12
36Robert PetrovickyC4471219210200010
39[lower-alpha 2]Scott PellerinLW548101812356000−16
22Craig ConroyC61611170436000−18
25Peter ZezelC354913612
28Ricard PerssonD534812−2456000−127
23Craig MacTavishC50257−12331000−12
28Brian NoonanRW1325720
6Jamie RiversD15257−46
43Libor ZabranskyD34156−144
20Mike PelusoLW4423501585000−125
26Sergio MomessoLW31134−437300006
4Marc BergevinD82044−953610128
38Pavol DemitraLW830302613436
9Shayne CorsonLW11213−424
27Steve LeachRW17213−2246000−233
26Konstantin ShafranovRW521310
12Rob PearsonRW18123−537
18Tony TwistLW64123−8121600000
34Murray BaronD11022−411
31Grant FuhrG73022660004
33Trent YawneyD39022217
13Yuri KhmylevLW2101−12
38Gary LeemanRW201100
21Jamal MayersRW6011−32
35Christer OlssonD501110
30Jon CaseyG150000
42Rory FitzpatrickD2000−22
19Chris McAlpineD15000−224401110
15Alexander VasilevskiRW3000−12

Goaltending

Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
31Grant Fuhr7333271119401932.72.90134261624183132.18.9292357
30Jon Casey15380299403.40.8660707

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)
NHL All-Rookie Team Jim Campbell (Forward) [5]
League
(in-season)
NHL All-Star Game selection Brett Hull[lower-alpha 3] [7]
Al MacInnis
NHL Rookie of the Month Jim Campbell (October) [8]
Harry York (November)

Draft picks

St. Louis's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[9]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
114Marty Reasoner United StatesBoston College (Hockey East)
367Gordie Dwyer CanadaBeauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
495Jon Zukiwsky CanadaRed Deer Rebels (WHL)
497Andrei Petrakov RussiaAvtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia)
6159Stephen Wagner CanadaOlds Grizzlys (AJHL)
7169Daniel Corso CanadaVictoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7177Reed Low CanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
8196Andrej Podkonicky SlovakiaZTK Zvolen (Slovakia)
8203Anthony Hutchins United StatesLawrence Academy (USHS–MA)
9229Konstantin Shafranov KazakhstanFort Wayne Komets (IHL)

See also

Notes

  1. Murphy wore number 21 in his first seven games.
  2. Pellerin wore number 36 in his first game and number 12 in his second game.
  3. Hull was voted to the starting lineup.[6]

References

  • "St. Louis Blues 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  • "1996-97 St. Louis Blues Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  1. "Rangers to sign Gretzky today". Tampa Bay Times. July 21, 1996. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  2. St. Louis Blues (1967-Present)
  3. "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  4. "1996-97 St. Louis Blues Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  6. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  7. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. "NHL Rookies of the Month". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  9. "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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