report this adEver since Maurice “The Rocket” Richard grew to become the primary to take action in 1944-45, scoring 50 targets in a single season has been the head plateau for NHL aim scorers. The magic 50-number has distinguished the true “snipers” of the league. Whereas Wayne Gretzky as soon as scored 50 in solely 39 video games – an NHL file – many Hockey Corridor of Famers by no means hit the mark even as soon as. Since their inaugural NHL season in 1967-68, the St. Louis Blues have had solely three gamers attain 50 targets in a single season. To place issues into perspective, the New York Rangers have existed for 41 extra years than St. Louis, and even they’ve solely had three gamers accomplish the feat.
To additional emphasize the rarity of the 50-goal achievement, it took 14 seasons earlier than any Blues participant accomplished the duty. From there, the three gamers who did so got here in comparatively quick order. Nevertheless, no St. Louis participant has reached 50 once more because the 1993-94 season. Given the lower in targets being scored within the NHL at this time in comparison with earlier many years, it could be many extra years till a fourth member joins the Blues “50-Objective Membership”.
We have a look now on the trio of Blues scorers who have been in a position to attain plateau. Two of them did it greater than as soon as. One fully blew the mark proper out of the water, and on a couple of event.
Wayne Babych: First St. Louis 50-Objective Scorer
Wayne Babych was the third general number of the 1978 NHL Beginner Draft. The Blues knew what they have been doing once they chosen him, as he was contemporary off of two straight 50-goal seasons whereas enjoying junior within the WCHL for the Portland Winterhawks. Babych instantly made the bounce to the NHL for the 1978-79 season, and would rating 27 and 26 targets in his first two campaigns.
When the 1980-81 season took place, Babych merely exploded within the aim column. Enjoying in 78 of St. Louis’ 80 video games that season, he ratcheted-up 54 targets whereas clicking exponentially with Blues’ nice Bernie Federko. As Babych labored his approach to 50, Federko achieved the primary 100-point season of his profession. The symbiotic relationship on the ice between the 2 marquee Blues led to Federko reaching a career-high in assists that season with 73 helpers (he would equal that mark once more in 1984-85). Surprisingly, Babych solely scored one hat-trick whereas assembling his 54 tallies.
Throughout the 1980-81 NHL season, Wayne Babych grew to become the primary St. Louis Blues participant to attain 50 targets in a single season. (Photograph by Bruce Bennett/Getty Photographs)
Babych and Federko have been so good collectively that St. Louis decisively received the Smythe Division in 1980-81 with an excellent file of 45-18-17 – ok for 107 factors. Granted, Babych and Federko didn’t do that every one alone. The good Purple Berenson coached from the helm, whereas Mike Liut manned the St. Louis internet. Babych and Federko have been two of 10 Blues to attain not less than 20 targets that season. Regardless of the strong performances by so many on the crew, the Blues could be eradicated within the second-round of the playoffs by the New York Rangers.
Babych’s aim totals would by no means attain near 50 once more. The truth is, he would solely hit 20 targets yet one more time throughout the remaining six seasons of his profession. The Blues would finally half methods with him after the 1983-84 season, and Babych would end out his time within the NHL with stops in Pittsburgh, Quebec, and Hartford. It will take till 1989-90 for one more St. Louis participant to attain 50 targets once more.
Brendan Shanahan: Two-Time 50-Objective Scorer
Hockey Corridor of Famer Brendan Shanahan had back-to-back 50-goal seasons throughout his time with the Blues. (Photograph by Graig Abel Assortment/Getty Photographs)
Earlier than arriving in St. Louis, Brendan Shanahan’s highest NHL aim complete was 30. Drafted second general in 1987 by the New Jersey Devils, his first few seasons have been comprised of extra penalty minutes than targets. Shanahan would rating simply seven occasions in his rookie season, however would observe that up with 22 targets as a sophomore participant. From his second season onward, he would rating not less than 20 targets for 18 consecutive seasons – a manufacturing that finally generated 656 targets by the tip of his profession.
Shanahan arguably did his finest aim scoring in St. Louis. On July 25, 1991 – after 4 seasons with the Devils – he signed as a free agent with the Blues. In his first season together with his new crew, he scored 33 occasions. Excluding the lockout shortened 1994-95 season, Shanahan’s aim totals went up in every season for St. Louis.
Throughout the 1992-93 season, Shanahan hit the 50-goal mark for the primary time. Enjoying in 71 of the St. Louis’ 84 video games that season, he scored 51 targets. On the ultimate recreation of the common season – Apr. 15, 1993 – Shanahan scored his 50th and 51st targets in opposition to Pat Jablonski of the Tampa Bay Lighting.
Shanahan would observe that efficiency up with 52 targets the very subsequent season. He would rating his 50th aim because the third aim of a hat-trick when the Blues performed in Dallas on Apr. 12, 1994. Despite the fact that Shanahan scored three targets – all in opposition to Stars goalie Andy Moog – the Blues nonetheless misplaced the sport 9-5. Shanahan would add two extra targets only for measure two days later when the Blues performed Winnipeg. Tacking on 50 assists as effectively that season, this was the one time in his 21 NHL seasons wherein he surpassed 100-points.
The Blues traded Shanahan to the Hartford Whalers on Jul. 27, 1995 in alternate for Chris Pronger. His two 50-goal seasons for the Blues could be the one occasions that he reached the mark in his complete profession.
Brett Hull: Two 50s, Two 70s and an 86
Brett Hull might very effectively be the best pure aim scorer in hockey historical past. If he isn’t, then he’s definitely the premier aim scorer in St. Louis Blues historical past. 527 occasions he discovered the again of the web whereas enjoying in a Blues uniform. He scored 741 occasions in complete by the tip of his profession. It was with St. Louis although that “The Golden Brett” surpassed the 50-goal mark on 5 consecutive events. He didn’t simply surpass it, nonetheless – he obliterated it!
Hull was most efficient when he was flanking Corridor of Famer middle Adam Oates – top-of-the-line passers to ever placed on a pair of skates. Of their first season collectively – 1989-90 – Hull scored 72 occasions. He recorded his 50th on Feb. 6, 1990 in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs and goaltender Jeff Reese. It took Hull simply 54 video games to attain 50.
Brett Hull’s 86 targets throughout the 1990-91 season is the second-highest complete in NHL historical past. (Photograph by Denis Brodeur/NHLI through Getty Photographs)
As if 72 targets weren’t sufficient, Hull possessed a fair hotter stick in 1990-91. Enjoying in 78 video games for the Blues, he scored an astounding 86 targets that season – the second most in NHL historical past behind Gretzky’s 92 in 1981-82. The overwhelming majority of these targets have been transformed from Oates’ passes, who completed the season with 90 helpers himself. Hull’s 50th got here throughout a 9-Four Blues victory in Detroit in opposition to the Purple Wings on Jan. 25, 1991. He first scored his 49th in opposition to Tim Cheveldae, after which his 50th on David Gagnon who solely performed two video games in his NHL profession. This time Hull solely wanted 49 video games to get the job carried out.
Following his 86-goal marketing campaign, Hull would once more get to 70 – this time precisely on the nostril – for 1991-92. The numbers themselves continued to look astronomical as he scored 70 occasions inside 73 video games. This could be the ultimate time that Hull and Oates carried out collectively, because the centerman was traded to the Boston Bruins in February of this identical season. Whereas Hull continued to be a goal-scoring machine all through the remainder of his profession, he by no means reached totals as excessive as when he performed alongside Oates.
The ultimate two occasions in Brett Hull’s profession that he scored 50 targets matched these of Shanahan’s two 50-goal campaigns. It’s a uncommon prevalence for an NHL crew to have two 50-goal scorers on their roster on the identical time. Uncommon as it could be, Hull scored 54 targets in 1992-93 and 57 targets in 1993-94.
Who Will Be the Subsequent Blue to Rating 50?
It’s troublesome to say with certainty when and if one other participant for the Blues will rating 50 targets in a single season. Because the 1993-94 season when it final occurred, a number of gamers have gotten over 40. Hull did it in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Scott Younger, Brad Boyes, and Vladimir Tarasenko are the one different gamers to achieve 40 or extra, and every has solely carried out it as soon as.
Might Vladimir Tarasenko change into the following Blues participant to attain 50 targets in a season? (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports activities)
If any participant is to achieve 50 someday quickly, the likeliest could be Tarasenko. With seasons of 37, 39, and 40 being his highest totals throughout his time in St. Louis, he may conceivably make the bounce to 50 however would wish an additional particular efficiency so as to take action. Regardless, Tarasenko is at present the best choice for hitting the mark.
The probability, nonetheless, is that Babych, Shanahan and Hull will stay the lone members of the unique Blues 50-Objective Membership for a lot of extra years to return.
