Another installment of the “Best St. Louis Blues by Sweater Number” is upon us! After looking at 70 numbers, less than 30 now remain. It is time to find the best St. Louis Blue to wear numbers 71 to 80.
The Best St. Louis Blues by Sweater Numbers 71 through 80
#71 Vladimir Sobotka (Forward)
The native from the former Czechoslovakia did not wear number 71 until he returned from the Kontinental Hockey League in 2017. Regardless, Sobotka was a fan-favourite and an asset to the Blues. A physical forward who had some offensive pop, Sobotka played six seasons with the Blues.
He played in a career-high 81 games in the 2017-18 season and scored a career-high 11 goals. It would be his last season with the Blue Note. In the ensuing off-season, Sobotka was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly.
#72 Justin Faulk (Defenceman)
The only Blue to wear number 72, Faulk came to the Blues right before the 2019-20 season. The trade was exciting and it showed the Blues were looking to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. However, the trade also made fans nervous, due to current captain’s Alex Pietrangelo‘s looming free agency. Unfortunately, Faulk’s first season with the Blues was not a success. Faulk scored just five goals in 69 games. The defenceman looked uncomfortable as he adjusted to his new team. The defenceman admitted as much in an interview that season.
Thankfully, Faulk did bounce back and had some productive seasons. His best as a Blue came in the 2021-22 season, when he scored 16 goals in 76 games. However, he is coming off two injury-plagued seasons, limiting his ice time as well as his value to the Blues.
#73 Kenny Agostino (Forward)
Agostino played in seven games for the Blues in the 2016-17 season. The New Jersey native scored one goal and recorded two assists. That is all there is to say about Agostino. That and he is the only Blue to wear number 73.
#74 T.J. Oshie (Forward)
Oshie made his NHL debut in the 2008-09 season. The rookie, along with other first-round picks, helped the Blues reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004. Oshie did not stop there. In seven seasons with the Blues, Oshie scored 110 goals. His best season with the Blue Note came in 2013-14. Oshie scored 21 goals and added 39 assists for 60 points.
That same season, Oshie became an international star. In the Winter Olympics, Team USA found itself in a shootout. With the game on the line multiple times, Oshie scored four goals on six attempts to win the game.
#75 Ryan Reaves (Forward)
The Blues have a history of players willing to drop the gloves. Reaves may be top-three on that list. Through seven seasons and many scraps, Reaves accumulated 695 penalty minutes with the Blue Note. However, Reaves most notable fight came in the 2016 Western Conference Semifinal against the Dallas Stars. After easily overcoming Curtis McKenzie in a fight, Reaves blew a kiss towards the Stars bench.
A testament of the value Reaves brought came in a 2017 trade. The Pittsburgh Penguins, wanting a player willing to stick up for their stars, traded a first-round pick to the Blues to acquire Reaves. While the first-round pick did not quite pan out, the Blues also acquired Oskar Sundqvist. That certainly has worked out.
#76 Zachary Bolduc (Forward)
Bolduc has only played in 25 games, but he showed a great deal of promise in that small sample size. Bolduc’s role next season is unknown, especially after the offer sheet success the Blues had in August. However, the 17th-overall pick certainly is on the radar for the Blues.
#77 Pierre Turgeon (Forward)
The Hall of Famer spent five seasons with the Blues. It was certainly a fun time to be a Blues fans. In addition to Turgeon, fans got to watch Brett Hull, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis and Grant Fuhr. Turgeon did his part, averaging more than 70 points per season. His best season came in 2000-01. Turgeon scored 30 goals and recorded 82 points in 79 games.
Perhaps Turgeon’s biggest moment with the Blues came in the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blues were facing the then-Phoenix Coyotes in a scoreless Game 7 in overtime. Turgeon would deflect a shot by Richard Persson late in the first overtime period to upset the Coyotes.
#78 Evgeny Grachev (Forward)
In 26 games with the Blues in the 2011-12 season, Grachev scored one goal and recorded four points. He was also the victim of a hipcheck by Marek Zidlicky. It happens.
#79 Adam Cracknell (Forward)
Cracknell is known for his time the “CPR” line with Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves. The line gave the Blues some life in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. With the exception of that season, Cracknell was never a regular in the Blues lineup. In fact, he never played more than 24 games in a season.
#80 Steve McLaren (Defenceman)
McLaren has an interesting Blues career. He only played in six games, but was involved in five fights. He spent 25 of his 360 NHL minutes in the penalty box. However, there are players who played longer but did less.
Next Week: The Final Installment
This series will conclude next week with numbers 81-99. Only nine players have worn a number in that range, so there will be no more players than normal mentioned.
There are only nine numbers left. However, there are some big names to come.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Edwards – USA TODAY Sports
