St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues arrived in the National Hockey League during the historic 1967 expansion that doubled the league's size from six to twelve teams. The franchise took its name from the W.C. Handy composition St. Louis Blues, a musical tribute to the city's jazz heritage that remains an integral part of the game-day atmosphere at their home arena. They play their home games at the Enterprise Center, a downtown venue opened in 1994 that replaced the original St. Louis Arena.

Franchise history reached its pinnacle on June 12, 2019, when the team won the Stanley Cup championship. This victory ended a 52-year title drought and marked the first major professional sports championship for the city since the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 1982. Head coach Craig Berube led the squad through the playoffs to secure the trophy after multiple previous Finals appearances fell short.

Leadership changes defined the 2026–2027 season as Robert Thomas was officially named the 25th captain in franchise history on September 2, 2026. Thomas succeeded Brayden Schenn following trade rumors that threatened his future with the club. The roster also saw defensive additions like Brandon Carlo joining from the Toronto Maple Leafs to bolster the blue line. [edit]

Founded in 1967 as part of the NHL's second major expansion wave, the Blues joined the league alongside the Oakland Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and California Golden Seals. The team drew immediate attention by securing Bobby Hull in the dispersal draft, though he ultimately signed with the Chicago Black Hawks due to contract disputes. Early years featured struggles typical of expansion teams, but the franchise stabilized under coaches like Scotty Bowman and later Ken Hitchcock.

The 2018–2019 season culminated in a dramatic playoff run where the Blues overcame a 3–0 series deficit against the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final. They defeated the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final to claim their first championship. Prior to this win, the team had lost four consecutive Finals appearances between 1968 and 2001.

Recent years have focused on rebuilding around young talent while maintaining veteran leadership. The appointment of Robert Thomas as captain in September 2026 signaled a shift toward a new era of ownership on the ice. Defensive acquisitions like Brandon Carlo aimed to strengthen the back end for the upcoming campaign. [edit]