Franchise FAQ

how long have the blues been a franchise

by Sister Cole Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the six teams from the 1967 NHL expansion and is named after the W. C.

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When did the Blues join NHL?

1967–68The Blues (whose name is derived from musician W.C. Handy's classic composition “St. Louis Blues”) joined the NHL during the 1967–68 season as one of the six teams added to the league when it expanded from the so-called “Original Six” franchises.

Was there a hockey team in St. Louis before the Blues?

The St. Louis Eagles were a professional ice hockey team that played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Based in St. Louis, the Eagles played for only one year, the 1934–35 NHL season.

How much is the St. Louis Blues franchise worth?

640 million U.S. dollarsLouis Blues franchise of the National Hockey League from 2006 to 2021. In 2021, the franchise had an estimated value of 640 million U.S. dollars....St. Louis Blues franchise value from 2006 to 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)CharacteristicFranchise value in million U.S. dollars20205102019530201846520174509 more rows•Jan 24, 2022

Why was Gretzky traded to the Blues?

The trade Blues make a blockbuster It was Feb. 27, 1996. The Blues were 26-24-11. To supplement their roster ahead of the playoffs, they looked to add the greatest player in hockey history, Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings.

How did the Blues get their name?

The name of this great American music probably originated with the 17th-century English expression “the blue devils,” for the intense visual hallucinations that can accompany severe alcohol withdrawal. Shortened over time to “the blues,” it came to mean a state of agitation or depression.

Who has won the most Stanley Cups?

The Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times since 1915.

Are the St. Louis Blues profitable?

The revenue of the St. Louis Blues amounted to 70 million U.S. dollars in the coronavirus-affected 2020/21 season....Revenue of the St Louis Blues from 2005/06 to 2020/21 (in million U.S. dollars)CharacteristicRevenue in million U.S. dollars2018/191712017/181482016/1715010 more rows•Jan 25, 2022

Is hockey popular in St. Louis?

Louis Is One of the Top 5 Hockey Cities in the Nation, Study Finds. Photo by Harlan McCarthy.

How much is it to buy the Blues?

The Blues are worth the aforementioned $510 million, placing them 18th in the league.

How did the Rangers get Gretzky?

The Great One and “Mess” Reunite After turning down a three-year contract with the St. Louis Blues worth $15 million, Gretzky signed a two-year deal with the Rangers for $8 million, plus incentives, as a free agent in July 1996. He was reunited with his longtime friend and Edmonton Oilers teammate Mark Messier.

Why did Gretzky leave St. Louis?

In the second round of the playoffs against the Red Wings, the Blues fell behind and Gretzky didn't' look like his former self. So as what some saw as a motivational tool, Keenan pulled the contract offer to Gretzky off the table. After the season, Gretzky went on to sign with the New York Rangers.

Why did Edmonton trade Wayne Gretzky?

Shortly after winning the 1988 Stanley Cup, Gretzky was told by his father that the Oilers were looking to trade him. Pocklington's business ventures weren't doing well and he was in dire need of some cash. As a result, he was shopping Gretzky around with the demand of getting $15 million back in return.

Why is St. Louis called the blues?

The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the six teams from the 1967 NHL expansion and is named after the W. C. Handy song "Saint Louis Blues".

Does Missouri have a hockey team?

MISSOURI STATE SYMBOLS Louis Blues the official state hockey team, the franchise won the 2019 Stanley Cup championship.

Who owns the St. Louis Blues hockey team?

Tom StillmanTom Stillman, a lifelong hockey fan, has been chairman and governor of the St. Louis Blues since May 2012. In 2018-19, Stillman and his all-local ownership group brought St.

How did the Blues win the Stanley Cup?

It ended with a 4-1 victory in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Boston Bruins, the team who defeated the Blues in their last Stanley Cup Final appearance nearly a half-century before.

How many players did the Blues have in the 1980s?

Louis, plus three on their farm team, the Montana Magic. Most NHL teams during the mid-1980s had over 60 players under contract.

How many home games did the Blues sell out in 2009?

In 2009–10, despite not having a playoff year, the Blues had an average attendance of 18,883 (98.6% total capacity), selling out 34 of its 40 home games, which placed them seventh in the NHL in attendance. In 2010–11, the team sold out every home game.

What radio station does the Blues play?

Since the 2019–20 preseason , WXOS (101 ESPN) has been the flagship radio station for the Blues. Chris Kerber and Joe Vitale are the current radio broadcast team. John Kelly (son of Dan) and Darren Pang are the current team for television coverage, while Scott Warmann, Erica Weston, Bernie Federko, and Jamie Rivers present the pre-game and post-game shows.

What color jerseys did the Blues wear?

The Blues have worn blue and white jerseys with the famous "Blue Note" crest and gold accents since their inception in 1967. From 1967 to 1984, the Blues jerseys featured a lighter shade of blue along with contrasting shoulder yoke and stripes. The blue jerseys lacked the contrasting yoke until 1979.

What was the Blues' record in 1981?

After being one of the worst teams a couple of years before, they were one of the best in 1981, as they finished with a then-franchise-best record of 45–18–17 record which translated to 107 points and the second-best record in the league. Ten players reached at least 20 goals, including Wayne Babych, future Hall of Famer Bernie Federko, and team captain Brian Sutter. They also had strong goaltending led by Mike Liut. They would get rewarded as head coach Red Berenson won the Jack Adams Award, Mike Liut finished a close second to Wayne Gretzky in the Hart Trophy voting, and earned the top spot on the NHL All-Star Team, Larry Patey finished third in the Frank J. Selke Trophy voting, and Blake Dunlop won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Their regular-season success, however, did not transfer into the playoffs, as they were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the second round 2–4 after beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round 3–2. The Blues would underachieve greatly the following year as they posted a 32–40–8, but they beat the Winnipeg Jets 3–1 in the Norris Division Semi-Finals before dropping to the Chicago Black Hawks in the Norris Division 2–4.

What NHL teams were added to the NHL in 1967?

The Blues were one of the six teams added to the NHL in the 1967 expansion, along with the Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and California Seals. St. Louis was the last of the six expansion teams to gain entry into the League; the market was chosen over Baltimore at the insistence of the Chicago Black Hawks. The Black Hawks' owners, James D. Norris and Arthur Wirtz, also owned the decrepit St. Louis Arena. They sought to unload the arena, which had not been well-maintained since the 1940s, and thus pressed the NHL to give the franchise to St. Louis, which had not submitted a formal expansion bid. The Black Hawks owners felt they could establish a "lovable loser" (much like the Cubs) with the St. Louis Hockey Team. NHL president Clarence Campbell said during the 1967 expansion meetings, "We want a team in St. Louis because of the city's geographical location and the fact that it has an adequate building."

When did the Blues reach 100 points?

On March 17, 2012, the Blues became the first team to reach 100 points and clinch a playoff berth in the 2011–12 season under Hitchcock, qualifying for their first playoffs since 2008–09. They would finish second in the Western Conference, behind the Vancouver Canucks. During the 2012 playoffs, they won their first playoff series since 2002, eliminating the San Jose Sharks in five games. The Blues were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings, in the following round.

21 titles won by Boston

Between the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins (who the Blues took down), Boston has had an incredible run of championships since the Blues entered the sports world in 1967. St. Louis fans (and the collective sports world outside New England) have had to sit back and watch Boston win title after title all while waiting on the Blues.

10 Stanley Cup wins by Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup an astounding 24 times overall, including 10 wins since the Blues entered the league. In fact two of those wins came against the Blues themselves (1968, 1969). The fact above this one is painful from a city perspective, but this fact is painful just from a hockey standpoint.

25-year playoff streak

The Blues went the playoffs for 25 straight years from 1979-80 through to 2003-04. This is tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history, but the Blues managed to come up empty handed in all of those years. The team even made the playoffs seven more times between 2005-06 and 2017-18, but still no trophy.

From Jack Buck to glory

Jack Buck, father of Joe Buck, was the original voice of the Blues. He was only there for one year, but it really puts into perspective just how long it took for the Blues to win. For reference, Joe Buck was born in 1969, two years after the Blues started as a franchise.

How many games did Bernie Federko play for the Blues?

No player has reached 1,000 games as a member of the Blues and only one -- Bernie Federko -- ever played more than 780 games with the Blues.

How many seasons did Chris Pronger play for the Blues?

But no stop was as long as the one he had in St. Louis -- he spent nine seasons with the Blues, serving as the captain for some of his tenure there as well.

How many games do you have to play to be on the Blackhawks?

The ground rules: The teams will consist of a center, two wings (regardless of which side), two defensemen and a goaltender. A player must have spent at least 200 games with a franchise to be considered. So Bobby Orr won't be on the Blackhawks' roster or Wayne Gretzky for St. Louis.

Who is the best center in the Blues?

Bernie Federko: Unquestionably, Federko is the top center in Blues history. He's a Hall of Famer, spent almost the entirety of his long career in St. Louis and has the franchise records to prove it. Seeing how he was better than a point-per-game player in his career, there isn't a whole lot his résumé is missing.

Did the Blues miss the postseason?

The Blues never missed the postseason while Pronger was in St. Louis. All in all, those were some good times in Eastern Missouri (via Getty Images).

When did the Blues get their franchise?

Louis were awarded a conditional franchise from the National Hockey League on April 5, 1966. Photo by UPI.

Who bought the Blues?

St. Louis businessman Tom Stillman and his band of investment brothers will announce today they have closed a deal to purchase the Blues. The group becomes the eighth to hold the keys to the franchise since its inception.

How many players did the Blues keep?

The Blues kept 26 players under contract, 23 of them in St. Louis. The standard for other teams was 60 players.

How many points did the Blues get in the 1999-2000 season?

In the 1999-2000 season, Quenneville's club won 51 games and collected 114 points, capturing the first Presidents' Trophy in franchise history. The Blues also won the Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals (165) in the NHL, as netminder Roman Turek finished with a 1.95 goals-against average.

How many points did the Blues have in the 1980s?

In 1980-81, with Berenson behind the bench, the Blues had a 107- point season and put hockey back on the St. Louis radar. But the renaissance was short-lived. The team slipped under .500 the following season and managed just 65 points in 1982-83.

How many games did the Blues win in 1978?

The initial results were not good. In 1978-79, the Blues won 18 of 80 games, or just one more than the NFL's 1972 Miami Dophins. Attendance had gone from a peak of 18,601 a game in 1972-73 to 10,130. But things began to turn around as Francis drafted players like Bernie Federko, Brian Sutter, Wayne Babych and Perry Turnbull. Checks were back in the Checkerdome.

What team was the first to finish first in the NHL?

All that hardware notwithstanding, hopes for a Stanley Cup run turned to stunning disappointment. The Blues became the first team in NHL history to finish first overall in the standings and lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Who did the Blues lose to in the first round of the NHL playoffs?

Louis Blues couldn’t repeat their magical 2019 Stanley Cup run in the NHL’s Edmonton bubble, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Vancouver Canucks.

What does 120 mean in the NHL?

Playoff wins count twice as much as regular season wins. A score of 120 means that the team achieved 20% more victories per dollar of payroll compared with the league average during the 2019-20 season.

Franchise Information for House of Blues

The House of Blues is dedicated to educating and celebrating the history of Southern Culture and African American artistic contributions to music and art.

House of Blues

The House of Blues is dedicated to educating and celebrating the history of Southern Culture and African American artistic contributions to music and art.

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Overview

Franchise history

Although the St. Louis Arena was not originally designed with hockey in mind, it met NHL standards of the era for size and had good sight lines for the game. After an ice plant was installed, the minor league St. Louis Flyers began play there in 1929. St. Louis soon began to attract the interest as a potential NHL market, eventually leading the owners of the moribund Ottawa Senators to relo…

Team information

The Blues play in the 19,150 (not counting standing room) capacity Enterprise Center, where they have played since 1994. The arena was previously known as Scottrade Center, the Savvis Center, and before that as the Kiel Center. From 1967 until 1994, the team played in the St. Louis Arena (known as The Checkerdome from 1977 until 1983), where the old St. Louis Eagles played, and …

Traditions

The Blues have a tradition of live organ music. Jeremy Boyer, the Blues organist, plays a Glenn Miller arrangement of W. C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" in its entirety before games and a short version at the end of every period, followed by "When the Saints Go Marching In." Boyer also plays the latter song on the organ after Blues goals, with fans replacing the word "Saints" with "Blues." On October 1, 2018, it was reported that, for the upcoming season, a new goal song recorded by …

Players

Updated October 1, 2022
• Al Arbour, 1967–1970, 1971
• Red Berenson, 1970–1971, 1976, 1977–1978
• Jim Roberts, 1971–1972

Franchise individual records

• Most goals in a season: Brett Hull, 86 (1990–91)
• Most assists in a season: Adam Oates, 90 (1990–91)
• Most points in a season: Brett Hull, 131 (1990–91)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Bob Gassoff, 306 (1975–76)

See also

• List of St. Louis Blues general managers
• List of St. Louis Blues head coaches

External links

• Official website
• Enterprise Center

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