1997–98 St. Louis Blues season

The highlight of the 1997–98 St. Louis Blues season would mark an end of an era as former captain Brett Hull was not re-signed following the season.

Off-season In his first full season as head coach, Joel Quenneville decided to employ a defensive formula. The move worked wonders as even Brett Hull bought into the new system as the Blues finished in third place with a solid 45–29–8 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Blues would sweep the Los Angeles Kings in four games. In the second round, the Blues were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in six games. The season would mark an end of an era, as Brett Hull was not signed to a new contract after the season, joining the Dallas Stars as a free agent during the summer.St. Louis Blues (1967-Present)

Defenseman Chris Pronger was named team captain, a role that had been vacant during the previous season.

Regular season

The Blues were one of only two teams out the NHL's 26 to score at least 3 goals per game (The Detroit Red Wings were the other team). The Blues' 256 goals for led all teams.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 1, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||0–1–0 ||

|2||October 3, 1997||7–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||1–1–0 ||

|3||October 4, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||2–1–0 ||

|4||October 9, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||3–1–0 ||

|5||October 11, 1997||5–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||4–1–0 ||

|6||October 13, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||5–1–0 ||

|7||October 17, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||6–1–0 ||

|8||October 18, 1997||5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||7–1–0 ||

|9||October 20, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||7–1–1 ||

|10||October 22, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||7–2–1 ||

|11||October 23, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||8–2–1 ||

|12||October 25, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||9–2–1 ||

|13||October 29, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||10–2–1 ||

|14||October 30, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||10–2–2 ||

|15||November 1, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||11–2–2 ||

|16||November 3, 1997||1–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||11–3–2 ||

|17||November 6, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||11–4–2 ||

|18||November 8, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||11–5–2 ||

|19||November 10, 1997||7–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||12–5–2 ||

|20||November 13, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||13–5–2 ||

|21||November 15, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||14–5–2 ||

|22||November 17, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||15–5–2 ||

|23||November 20, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||15–6–2 ||

|24||November 22, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||15–7–2 ||

|25||November 25, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||15–8–2 ||

|26||November 27, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||15–8–3 ||

|27||November 29, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||15–9–3 ||

|28||December 2, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||16–9–3 ||

|29||December 4, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||17–9–3 ||

|30||December 6, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||18–9–3 ||

|31||December 8, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||19–9–3 ||

|32||December 10, 1997||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||19–10–3 ||

|33||December 11, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||20–10–3 ||

|34||December 13, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||20–11–3 ||

|35||December 15, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||20–12–3 ||

|36||December 18, 1997||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||20–12–4 ||

|37||December 20, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||21–12–4 ||

|38||December 22, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||21–12–5 ||

|39||December 23, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||22–12–5 ||

|40||December 26, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||22–13–5 ||

|41||December 27, 1997||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||22–13–6 ||

|42||December 29, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||22–14–6 ||

|43||December 31, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||22–15–6 ||

|44||January 3, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||23–15–6 ||

|45||January 6, 1998||5–1 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||24–15–6 ||

|46||January 7, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||25–15–6 ||

|47||January 10, 1998||5–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||26–15–6 ||

|48||January 12, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||26–16–6 ||

|49||January 14, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||26–17–6 ||

|50||January 20, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||26–18–6 ||

|51||January 22, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||26–18–7 ||

|52||January 24, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||26–19–7 ||

|53||January 26, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||26–20–7 ||

|54||January 27, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||26–20–8 ||

|55||January 29, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||27–20–8 ||

|56||January 31, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||28–20–8 ||

|57||February 4, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||28–21–8 ||

|58||February 5, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||29–21–8 ||

|59||February 7, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||30–21–8 ||

|60||February 26, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||30–22–8 ||

|61||February 28, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||31–22–8 ||

|62||March 1, 1998||6–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||32–22–8 ||

|63||March 3, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||33–22–8 ||

|64||March 5, 1998||4–0 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||34–22–8 ||

|65||March 7, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||35–22–8 ||

|66||March 9, 1998||4–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||36–22–8 ||

|67||March 11, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||36–23–8 ||

|68||March 14, 1998||0–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||36–24–8 ||

|69||March 21, 1998||0–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||36–25–8 ||

|70||March 22, 1998||3–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||36–26–8 ||

|71||March 26, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||37–26–8 ||

|72||March 28, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||38–26–8 ||

|73||March 30, 1998||6–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||39–26–8 ||

|74||April 1, 1998||6–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||40–26–8 ||

|75||April 4, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||41–26–8 ||

|76||April 7, 1998||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||41–27–8 ||

|77||April 9, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||42–27–8 ||

|78||April 11, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||42–28–8 ||

|79||April 12, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||42–29–8 ||

|80||April 16, 1998||7–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||43–29–8 ||

|81||April 18, 1998||5–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||44–29–8 ||

|82||April 19, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||45–29–8 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 23, 1998 || 8–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Blues lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 25, 1998 || 2–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Blues lead 2–0 ||

| 3 || April 27, 1998 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Blues lead 3–0 ||

| 4 || April 29, 1998 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Blues win 4–0 ||

| 1 || May 8, 1998 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Blues lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || May 10, 1998 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || May 12, 1998 || 2–3 2OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || May 14, 1998 || 2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 3–1 ||

| 5 || May 17, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || May 19, 1998 || 1–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings win 4–2 ||

Legend:

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. Player Regular season Playoffs 16 RW 66 27 45 72 −1 26 10 3 3 6 −3 2 77 C 60 22 46 68 13 24 10 4 4 8 −5 2 14 LW 79 31 31 62 12 94 10 2 8 10 −2 18 28 D 80 14 42 56 9 32 10 0 4 4 −8 6 38 LW 61 22 30 52 11 22 10 3 3 6 −3 2 2 D 71 19 30 49 6 80 8 2 6 8 1 12 22 C 81 14 29 43 20 46 10 1 2 3 −1 8 10 RW 76 22 19 41 0 55 10 7 3 10 −1 12 44 D 81 9 27 36 47 180 10 1 9 10 −2 26 33 LW 80 8 21 29 14 62 10 0 2 2 1 10 23 RW 61 11 15 26 5 10 10 0 0 0 −2 2 27 C 65 10 15 25 1 38 10 2 1 3 −3 6 9 C 62 12 6 18 6 26 10 0 0 0 −4 2 25 C 48 6 9 15 4 35 10 1 3 4 0 8 17 RW 27 4 9 13 8 22 37 C 58 4 6 10 0 31 4 D 81 3 7 10 −2 90 10 0 1 1 −1 8 19 D 54 3 7 10 14 36 10 0 0 0 −1 16 5 D 11 5 4 9 2 10 10 2 2 4 −3 10 34 LW 16 1 8 9 3 29 20 RW/D 50 1 7 8 −5 64 2 0 0 0 −2 6 39 RW 67 4 3 7 10 231 7 0 0 0 −2 23 6 D 59 2 4 6 5 36 18 LW 60 1 1 2 −4 105 31 G 58 0 2 2 6 10 0 1 1 2 12 RW 5 0 2 2 1 0 32 C 10 1 0 1 0 6 3 1 0 1 −1 0 43 D 6 0 1 1 −3 6 29 G 30 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 30 G 1 0 0 0 0 7 D 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 31 Grant Fuhr 58 29 21 6 1354 138 2.53 .898 3 3274 10 6 4 297 28 2.73 .906 0 616 29 Jamie McLennan 30 16 8 2 618 60 2.17 .903 2 1658 1 0 0 4 1 4.25 .750 0 14 30 Rich Parent 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 1.000 0 12 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Jamie McLennan King Clancy Memorial Trophy Kelly Chase NHL Second All-Star Team Chris Pronger (Defense) NHL Plus-Minus Award Chris Pronger League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Al MacInnis

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef 1,000th game played Al MacInnis October 23, 1997 Geoff Courtnall March 3, 1998 First game Rich Parent November 8, 1997 Chris Kenady December 8, 1997 1,000th point Al MacInnis April 7, 1998

Draft picks St. Louis's draft picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)240Tyler RennetteNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)486Didier TremblayHalifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)498Jan HoracekSlavia Prague (Czech Republic)4106Jame PollockSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)6149Nicholas BilottoBeauport Harfangs (QMJHL)7177Ladislav NagyHC Košice (Slovakia)8206Bob HaglundDes Moines Buccaneers (USHL)9232Dmitri PlekhanovNeftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia)9244Marek IvanLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

See also 1997–98 NHL season

Notes

References