# 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.
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

Central Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
| 2 | 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
| 3 | 4 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
| 4 | 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
| 5 | 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
| 6 | 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
| 2 | x – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
| 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
| 7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
| 8 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
| 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
| 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
| 11 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
| 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
| 13 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 10–2–2 (home: 7–1–1; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 1, 19971–3Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)0–1–0Recap
2WOctober 3, 19977–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 4, 19972–1@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)2–1–0Recap
4WOctober 9, 19973–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)3–1–0Recap
5WOctober 11, 19975–3Florida Panthers (1997–98)4–1–0Recap
6WOctober 13, 19973–1Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)5–1–0Recap
7WOctober 17, 19972–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)6–1–0Recap
8WOctober 18, 19975–3New York Rangers (1997–98)7–1–0Recap
9TOctober 20, 19973–3 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)7–1–1Recap
10LOctober 22, 19973–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)7–2–1Recap
11WOctober 23, 19974–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–2–1Recap
12WOctober 25, 19975–2Washington Capitals (1997–98)9–2–1Recap
13WOctober 29, 19973–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)10–2–1Recap
14TOctober 30, 19972–2 OTColorado Avalanche (1997–98)10–2–2Recap :
November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
15WNovember 1, 19972–0San Jose Sharks (1997–98)11–2–2Recap
16LNovember 3, 19971–5Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)11–3–2Recap
17LNovember 6, 19971–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)11–4–2Recap
18LNovember 8, 19971–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)11–5–2Recap
19WNovember 10, 19977–1@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)12–5–2Recap
20WNovember 13, 19974–2Boston Bruins (1997–98)13–5–2Recap
21WNovember 15, 19975–2Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)14–5–2Recap
22WNovember 17, 19973–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)15–5–2Recap
23LNovember 20, 19970–3Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)15–6–2Recap
24LNovember 22, 19970–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–7–2Recap
25LNovember 25, 19972–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)15–8–2Recap
26TNovember 27, 19972–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)15–8–3Recap
27LNovember 29, 19972–4@ New York Islanders (1997–98)15–9–3Recap :
December: 7–6–3 (home: 4–3–2; road: 3–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28WDecember 2, 19973–1@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)16–9–3Recap
29WDecember 4, 19974–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)17–9–3Recap
30WDecember 6, 19974–3 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)18–9–3Recap
31WDecember 8, 19975–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)19–9–3Recap
32LDecember 10, 19973–4 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)19–10–3Recap
33WDecember 11, 19972–1@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)20–10–3Recap
34LDecember 13, 19971–4Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)20–11–3Recap
35LDecember 15, 19971–3Ottawa Senators (1997–98)20–12–3Recap
36TDecember 18, 19974–4 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)20–12–4Recap
37WDecember 20, 19974–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)21–12–4Recap
38TDecember 22, 19972–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)21–12–5Recap
39WDecember 23, 19973–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)22–12–5Recap
40LDecember 26, 19971–4Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)22–13–5Recap
41TDecember 27, 19975–5 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)22–13–6Recap
42LDecember 29, 19972–4@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)22–14–6Recap
43LDecember 31, 19972–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)22–15–6Recap :
January: 6–5–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
44WJanuary 3, 19984–3Calgary Flames (1997–98)23–15–6Recap
45WJanuary 6, 19985–1@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)24–15–6Recap
46WJanuary 7, 19983–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)25–15–6Recap
47WJanuary 10, 19985–1@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)26–15–6Recap
48LJanuary 12, 19981–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)26–16–6Recap
49LJanuary 14, 19981–2 OTDallas Stars (1997–98)26–17–6Recap
50LJanuary 20, 19981–3@ New York Rangers (1997–98)26–18–6Recap
51TJanuary 22, 19983–3 OTNew York Islanders (1997–98)26–18–7Recap
52LJanuary 24, 19984–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)26–19–7Recap
53LJanuary 26, 19982–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)26–20–7Recap
54TJanuary 27, 19983–3 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)26–20–8Recap
55WJanuary 29, 19982–0Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)27–20–8Recap
56WJanuary 31, 19986–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)28–20–8Recap :
February: 3–2–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
57LFebruary 4, 19982–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)28–21–8Recap
58WFebruary 5, 19983–1@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)29–21–8Recap
59WFebruary 7, 19984–1Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)30–21–8Recap
60LFebruary 26, 19981–3@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)30–22–8Recap
61WFebruary 28, 19985–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)31–22–8Recap :
March: 8–4–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62WMarch 1, 19986–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)32–22–8Recap
63WMarch 3, 19985–3Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)33–22–8Recap
64WMarch 5, 19984–0Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)34–22–8Recap
65WMarch 7, 19982–1Dallas Stars (1997–98)35–22–8Recap
66WMarch 9, 19984–0@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)36–22–8Recap
67LMarch 11, 19982–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)36–23–8Recap
68LMarch 14, 19980–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)36–24–8Recap
69LMarch 21, 19980–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)36–25–8Recap
70LMarch 22, 19983–5@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)36–26–8Recap
71WMarch 26, 19983–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)37–26–8Recap
72WMarch 28, 19983–2Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)38–26–8Recap
73WMarch 30, 19986–2San Jose Sharks (1997–98)39–26–8Recap :
April: 6–3–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 4–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 1, 19986–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)40–26–8Recap
75WApril 4, 19984–1Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)41–26–8Recap
76LApril 7, 19983–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)41–27–8Recap
77WApril 9, 19983–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)42–27–8Recap
78LApril 11, 19983–4Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)42–28–8Recap
79LApril 12, 19983–4@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)42–29–8Recap
80WApril 16, 19987–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)43–29–8Recap
81WApril 18, 19985–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)44–29–8Recap
82WApril 19, 19985–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)45–29–8Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings: Blues win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 23, 19988–3Los Angeles KingsBlues lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 25, 19982–1Los Angeles KingsBlues lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 27, 19984–3@ Los Angeles KingsBlues lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 29, 19982–1@ Los Angeles KingsBlues win 4–0Recap :
Western Conference Semifinals vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings: Red Wings win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 8, 19984–2@ Detroit Red WingsBlues lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 10, 19981–6@ Detroit Red WingsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LMay 12, 19982–3 2OTDetroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 2–1Recap
4LMay 14, 19982–5Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 17, 19983–1@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 19, 19981–6Detroit Red WingsRed Wings win 4–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Brett Hull | RW | 66 | 27 | 45 | 72 | −1 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 2 |
| 77 | Pierre Turgeon | C | 60 | 22 | 46 | 68 | 13 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −5 | 2 |
| 14 | Geoff Courtnall | LW | 79 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 12 | 94 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 18 |
| 28 | Steve Duchesne | D | 80 | 14 | 42 | 56 | 9 | 32 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −8 | 6 |
| 38 | Pavol Demitra | LW | 61 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 2 |
| 2 | Al MacInnis | D | 71 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 6 | 80 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 22 | Craig Conroy | C | 81 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 20 | 46 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 8 |
| 10 | Jim Campbell | RW | 76 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 0 | 55 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 | −1 | 12 |
| 44 | Chris Pronger | D | 81 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 47 | 180 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 10 | −2 | 26 |
| 33 | Scott Pellerin | LW | 80 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 14 | 62 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 23 | Blair Atcheynum | RW | 61 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 27 | Terry Yake | C | 65 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 1 | 38 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −3 | 6 |
| 9 | Darren Turcotte | C | 62 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 2 |
| 25 | Pascal Rheaume | C | 48 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 17 | Joe Murphy‡ | RW | 27 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Harry York‡ | C | 58 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Marc Bergevin | D | 81 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −2 | 90 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 8 |
| 19 | Chris McAlpine | D | 54 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 36 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 16 |
| 5 | Todd Gill† | D | 11 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −3 | 10 |
| 34 | Michel Picard† | LW | 16 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Rudy Poeschek | RW/D | 50 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −5 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 39 | Kelly Chase | RW | 67 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 231 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 23 |
| 6 | Jamie Rivers | D | 59 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Tony Twist | LW | 60 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 105 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Grant Fuhr | G | 58 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 12 | Chris Kenady | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Mike Eastwood† | C | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 43 | Libor Zabransky | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Jamie McLennan | G | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Rich Parent | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Ricard Persson | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 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

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

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| 1,000th game played | Al MacInnis | October 23, 1997 |
| 1,000th game played | Geoff Courtnall | March 3, 1998 |
| First game | Rich Parent | November 8, 1997 |
| First game | 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) |
| 2 | 40 | Tyler Rennette | Canada | North Bay Centennials (OHL) |
| 4 | 86 | Didier Tremblay | Canada | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 98 | Jan Horacek | Czech Republic | Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) |
| 4 | 106 | Jame Pollock | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 6 | 149 | Nicholas Bilotto | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 177 | Ladislav Nagy | Slovakia | HC Košice (Slovakia) |
| 8 | 206 | Bob Haglund | United States | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| 9 | 232 | Dmitri Plekhanov | Russia | Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia) |
| 9 | 244 | Marek Ivan | Czech Republic | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) |