Welcome to LWOS’ Summer Hockey Series, Best of the Rest. Plenty of sites do a version of a 30 greats in 30 days series, but this year we are doing something a little bit different. We want to look at the best player from each team who is not in the Hockey Hall Of Fame. In order to do this there are some rules. First the player must have been a significant part of this franchise (franchises include their time in a previous city… see Winnipeg/Atlanta) and must be retired for at least 3 years, making them Hall of Fame eligible. To see all the articles in the series, check out the homepage here.
The St. Louis Blues were one of the six teams in the original expansion of the National Hockey League in 1967, and started their existence on a high note, no pun intended. In the opening three seasons as a franchise, they clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive years. Not one victorious outcome would arise, however, despite an impressive roster built around the terrific goaltending tandem of Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante.
Fast forward to the 1979-80 campaign, the Blues would begin a historic streak as St. Louis would qualify for the postseason the next 25 straight seasons. Fan favorites Bernie Federko and Brent Sutter put up explosive and consistent regular season numbers, but also failed to bring Lord Stanley to the ‘Lou by the time they retired.
Other iconic individuals such as Brett Hull, Adam Oates, and Brenden Shanahan up front with Al MacInnis guarding the blue line and Grant Fuhr in between the pipes would hit the ice in the late 1980’s and 1990’s for St. Louis. They’d remain atop the league in the standings for several years, leading Blues fans to believe that the Cup drought would come to an end soon enough with the amount of talent brought together by GM Ron Caron. Again, the Blues would come up short of capturing hockey’s greatest prize.
Not even Wayne Gretzky, although he was aging (and he only played in 18 games for STL), was able to end what was being dubbed “the curse.” In 1997-1998, another superstar who hoped to bring the Blues their first Stanley Cup in franchise history would grace the “Note” on his sweater for the first time.
St. Louis Blues – Pavol Demitra
At 22 years old, Pavol Demitra was traded from the Ottawa Senators to St. Louis for Christer Olsson. In his first full regular season with the team, the Slovak native would finish fifth on the roster in scoring, potting 22 goals and adding 30 assists.
Newly hired and notably aggressive head coach Mike Keenan steered away the “Golden Brett” in 1997, as he left St. Louis for Dallas, winning his only Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Stars. This would allow Demitra to receive more ice time as he was promoted up the Blues lineup following Hull’s departure.
Demitra would lead the team in goals (37), assists (52), and points (89) the next season. In the postseason, he registered nine points in 13 games, but the Blues were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by none other than Hull’s Stars. The success for Demitra would carry over into the 1999-2000 season, as he lit the lamp 27 times while leading the Blues for the second straight year with 75 points in 71 games. The NHL would recognize him for his sportsmanship and lack of infractions both on and off the ice as he was awarded with the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy later that year.
Despite being injured for almost half of the 2000-01 season, he still managed to crack the top five in Blues scoring with 45 points in 44 games. The following year, Demitra was fully healed, appearing in all 82 games for St. Louis, racking in 35 goals and 43 assists. In terms of league scoring, the 9th round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft finished 7th overall.
The 2002-03 campaign would be remembered as Demitra’s greatest in the NHL, setting multiple career-highs in the offensive category with 57 helpers and 93 points. In his final season with the Blues, he was once again sidelined, and ended the year totaling 58 points in 68 games.
Throughout his eight-year tenure in St. Louis, he managed to put up 204 goals and 289 assists in 494 games. Those numbers place him fifth in Blues franchise history in terms of points. Also, Demitra’s goal total as a Blue has him ranked sixth all-time while his assist total in St. Louis is sufficient enough for fifth.
After spending the lockout season of 2004-2005 in the Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Trencin, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings once professional hockey in North America had resumed the next year. His offensive prowess continued in L.A. for one season before being shipped off to Minnesota, where Demitra would spend two years playing for the Wild. As a free agent, Demitra joined the Vancouver Canucks in 2008.
Following a 50+ point season with the Canucks, he severely injured his shoulder in the 2009 postseason. This ailment would continue to nag him in 2010, which saw Demitra participate in only 28 games. He would then become a free agent, resulting in the end of his NHL career. Pavol Demitra played in 847 National Hockey League games, scoring 304 goals with 464 assists for 768 points.
Demitra was also selected to three All-Star Games (1999, 2000, 2002) throughout his tenure in the NHL. Internationally, his performance seemed to gradually improve as he aged, leading Slovakia in three Winter Olympics as well as multiple World Championships. At the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Demitra earned a spot on the event’s esteemed All-Star roster and lead the tournament in points.
Unfortunately, while playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League, Demitra and the rest of the team’s roster passed away after the team’s plane crashed on their way to Belarus on September 7th 2011. He was only 36 years old. In the next two weeks, both Team Slovakia and HC Dukla Trencin retired Demitra’s symbolic number 38. In 2012, he was inducted into the Slovakian Hockey Hall of Fame.
Just this week, it was announced that a Slovak documentary would be showcasing his life airing September 7th, the three-year anniversary of the air disaster.
Although he didn’t win a Stanley Cup or a Hart Trophy, it is no denying that Demitra had a successful career in the National Hockey League. “Demo” was an instrumental part to the success of the St. Louis Blues and wore his heart on his sleeve night in and night out. He was a Slovakian legend, reigning supreme over those who dared to underestimate his elusiveness in all three zones.
The NHL now has the opportunity to honor him posthumously for his achievements, as he recently became eligible for the HOF in Toronto. During his hockey playing career, he became well-known for his disciplined play while having respect for both his teammates and opponents. He didn’t play as many games in his career as most hockey critics will point out, but the impact he had on the game will always be remembered by not only Blues fans, but hockey fans all across the world. Whether he receives an induction into the Hall of Fame or not, Demitra will remain a St. Louis Blues great for years to come.
An aspect of his personality that stood out distinctively to reporters as well as myself growing up was his colorful sense of humor. Minnesota Wild writer Michael Russo recalled a particular moment with Demitra after his passing:
In 2008 after the Wild won the division, I predicted Colorado in Six. I walked into the locker room in suburban Denver, and Demitra lit into me. How do you pick against us? You’re our writer. Yada, yada. It was a funny yet uncomfortable moment as I tried to explain I’m an impartial writer.
Well, Colorado won in six. Every time I saw Demo since, I’d say hi by saying, “Colorado in Six.” Even in the Olympics in 2010, “Colorado in Six.” Demitra would always go, “I know, I know. You were right.”
Leave it up to the committee to decide whether he is HOF worthy or not, but memories like this one simply exemplify the type of guy Pavol Demitra was: a kind-hearted Slovakian who died playing the game he loved.
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