1995–96 St. Louis Blues season

The 1995–96 St. Louis Blues season was the 29th in franchise history. The Blues hired head coach Mike Keenan as general manager. The hard nosed Keenan rubbed many Blues players the wrong way, but brought a tough, winning style of play. One of Keenan's first moves was trading Brendan Shanahan to the Hartford Whalers for Chris Pronger. With Brett Hull in Keenan's dog house, the general manager made a bold move by acquiring Wayne Gretzky for the 1995–96 stretch run, reuniting him with former Oilers such as Glenn Anderson, Charlie Huddy, Craig MacTavish, Grant Fuhr and others. The "Great One" couldn't do a whole lot during his limited time in St. Louis once goaltender Grant Fuhr was hurt in the final game of the regular season. The Blues defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Western Conference Quarter-finals. It would be the last playoff series ever played at Maple Leaf Gardens. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Blues lost to the President's Trophy winners, the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. The Blues had seven current Hockey Hall of Fame members during the season (Gretzky, Hull, MacInnis, Anderson, Fuhr, Hawerchuk and Pronger).

1995–96 St. Louis Blues
Division4th Central
Conference5th Western
1995–96 record32–34–16
Home record15–17–9
Road record17–17–7
Goals for219
Goals against248
Team information
General ManagerMike Keenan
CoachMike Keenan
CaptainBrett Hull (Oct.)
Shayne Corson (Oct.–Feb.)
Wayne Gretzky (Feb.–Apr.)
Alternate captainsShayne Corson (Oct., Feb.–Apr.)
Brett Hull (Dec.–Feb.)
Al MacInnis
Jay Wells (Oct.–Dec.)
ArenaKiel Center
Team leaders
GoalsBrett Hull (43)
AssistsAl MacInnis (44)
PointsBrett Hull (83)
Penalty minutesShayne Corson (192)
WinsGrant Fuhr (30)
Goals against averageGrant Fuhr (2.87)

Offseason

Regular season

Wayne Gretzky trade

On February 27, the St. Louis Blues acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat and draft picks.[1] In 18 regular season games with the Blues, Gretzky recorded 21 points as the Blues qualified for the playoffs for the 17th straight season with a record of 32–34–16. He scored 37 points in 31 games for the team in both the regular season and the playoffs, and the Blues came within one overtime game of the Conference finals. He also served as the team's captain (replacing Corson) in his short tenure with the Blues. Despite reuniting with former Edmonton Oilers teammates Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and Craig MacTavish, whom Gretzky had not played with since the 1988 Stanley Cup win, he never clicked with the team or with his new right-winger, "The Golden Brett" Hull, on the ice as well as many had expected. On July 12, he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier.

Final standings
Central Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Detroit Red Wings8262137325181131
2Chicago Blackhawks8240281427322094
3Toronto Maple Leafs8234361224725280
4St. Louis Blues8232341621924880
5Winnipeg Jets823640627529178
6Dallas Stars8226421422728066

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Detroit Red WingsCEN8262137325181131
2Colorado AvalanchePAC82472510326240104
3Chicago BlackhawksCEN8240281427322094
4Toronto Maple LeafsCEN8234361224725280
5St. Louis BluesCEN8232341621924880
6Calgary FlamesPAC8234371124124079
7Vancouver CanucksPAC8232351527827879
8Winnipeg JetsCEN823640627529178
9Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC823539823424778
10Edmonton OilersPAC823044824030468
11Dallas StarsCEN8226421422728066
12Los Angeles KingsPAC8224401825630266
13San Jose SharksPAC822055725235747

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 7, 19951–4@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)0–1–0
2WOctober 10, 19955–3Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)1–1–0
3WOctober 12, 19953–1@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)2–1–0
4WOctober 14, 19954–1Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)3–1–0
5LOctober 17, 19954–7Boston Bruins (1995–96)3–2–0
6TOctober 19, 19951–1 OTDallas Stars (1995–96)3–2–1
7LOctober 21, 19951–4Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)3–3–1
8LOctober 22, 19952–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)3–4–1
9WOctober 25, 19954–2@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)4–4–1
10WOctober 27, 19954–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)5–4–1
11LOctober 29, 19951–3Washington Capitals (1995–96)5–5–1
12LNovember 1, 19950–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)5–6–1
13LNovember 4, 19953–7@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)5–7–1
14LNovember 7, 19950–1Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)5–8–1
15WNovember 10, 19953–2Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)6–8–1
16WNovember 11, 19954–1@ New York Islanders (1995–96)7–8–1
17TNovember 14, 19951–1 OTNew York Rangers (1995–96)7–8–2
18WNovember 16, 19953–1San Jose Sharks (1995–96)8–8–2
19LNovember 18, 19952–5@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)8–9–2
20LNovember 21, 19952–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)8–10–2
21LNovember 23, 19952–3Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)8–11–2
22TNovember 25, 19952–2 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)8–11–3
23LNovember 27, 19950–2Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)8–12–3
24WNovember 29, 19955–4Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)9–12–3
25WNovember 30, 19954–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)10–12–3
26WDecember 2, 19957–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)11–12–3
27TDecember 5, 19951–1 OT@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)11–12–4
28WDecember 8, 19956–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)12–12–4
29WDecember 9, 19952–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)13–12–4
30LDecember 12, 19952–5Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)13–13–4
31TDecember 14, 19953–3 OTCalgary Flames (1995–96)13–13–5
32WDecember 16, 19953–2San Jose Sharks (1995–96)14–13–5
33WDecember 19, 19954–1New York Islanders (1995–96)15–13–5
34LDecember 22, 19951–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)15–14–5
35LDecember 23, 19951–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)15–15–5
36LDecember 26, 19952–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)15–16–5
37WDecember 28, 19954–1Dallas Stars (1995–96)16–16–5
38LDecember 30, 19953–4 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)16–17–5
39WJanuary 4, 19963–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)17–17–5
40WJanuary 6, 19963–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)18–17–5
41LJanuary 9, 19962–4@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)18–18–5
42TJanuary 11, 19964–4 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)18–18–6
43TJanuary 13, 19963–3 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)18–18–7
44TJanuary 14, 19963–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1995–96)18–18–8
45LJanuary 16, 19961–5Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)18–19–8
46WJanuary 24, 19966–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)19–19–8
47WJanuary 27, 19962–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)20–19–8
48LJanuary 29, 19962–4@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)20–20–8
49WJanuary 31, 19964–0@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)21–20–8
50TFebruary 1, 19962–2 OTVancouver Canucks (1995–96)21–20–9
51LFebruary 3, 19963–7Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)21–21–9
52LFebruary 6, 19962–5Dallas Stars (1995–96)21–22–9
53LFebruary 8, 19961–6Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)21–23–9
54WFebruary 10, 19966–3@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)22–23–9
55TFebruary 11, 19962–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)22–23–10
56WFebruary 13, 19963–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)23–23–10
57WFebruary 16, 19964–3Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)24–23–10
58WFebruary 18, 19963–0Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)25–23–10
59LFebruary 20, 19961–7Ottawa Senators (1995–96)25–24–10
60WFebruary 22, 19964–3 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)26–24–10
61TFebruary 24, 19962–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1995–96)26–24–11
62TFebruary 29, 19962–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)26–24–12
63WMarch 3, 19964–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)27–24–12
64WMarch 5, 19962–0Florida Panthers (1995–96)28–24–12
65LMarch 7, 19962–4Calgary Flames (1995–96)28–25–12
66WMarch 9, 19966–3Hartford Whalers (1995–96)29–25–12
67LMarch 12, 19962–4@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)29–26–12
68WMarch 15, 19964–2@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)30–26–12
69LMarch 17, 19961–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)30–27–12
70WMarch 18, 19963–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)31–27–12
71LMarch 20, 19961–2@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)31–28–12
72LMarch 22, 19961–6Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)31–29–12
73TMarch 24, 19962–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (1995–96)31–29–13
74LMarch 26, 19964–8@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)31–30–13
75TMarch 28, 19964–4 OTNew Jersey Devils (1995–96)31–30–14
76LMarch 31, 19961–8@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)31–31–14
77WApril 3, 19966–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)32–31–14
78LApril 4, 19961–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)32–32–14
79LApril 6, 19961–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)32–33–14
80TApril 8, 19962–2 OTWinnipeg Jets (1995–96)32–33–15
81LApril 11, 19962–3Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)32–34–15
82TApril 14, 19962–2 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)32–34–16

Playoffs

In the playoffs, Gretzky would provide a spark as the Blues overcame an injury to goalie Grant Fuhr in Game 1 to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games. Backup goalie Jon Casey continued to keep the Blues hopes alive as they jumped out to a 3–2 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings. However, the Wings would rally and win the series in double overtime in Game 7 on Steve Yzerman's goal.

St. Louis won series 4–2


Detroit won series 4–3

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Brett HullRW704340833041656
Al MacInnisD82174461885911
Shayne CorsonLW7718284619231300
Dale HawerchukC66132841225501
Geoff CourtnallLW69241640101-9711
Brian NoonanRW81132235842316
Chris ProngerD7871825110-18311
Adam CreightonC61111021780203
Wayne GretzkyC18813212-6111
Peter ZezelC578132112-2201
Stephane MatteauLW467132065-4302
Craig JohnsonLW49871530-4100
Mike HudsonC/LW3231215267000
Igor KravchukD403121524-6001
Jeff NortonD364711264001
Murray BaronD8229111903000
Rob PearsonRW276410544101
Christer OlssonD26281014-6200
Ian LaperriereRW3336987-4101
David RobertsLW2816712-7101
Stephen LeachRW1424622-3000
Tony TwistLW51325100-1001
Roman VopatC2523548-8101
Esa TikkanenLW11145181010
Glenn AndersonRW152246-11200
J. J. DaigneaultD3713424-6000
Denis ChasseRW42303108-9101
Patrice TardifC2330312-2001
Jay WellsD7603367-8000
Basil McRaeLW1811240-5000
Paul BrotenRW170114-1000
Dallas EakinsD1601134-2000
Grant FuhrG7901180000
Greg GilbertLW170118-1000
Yuri KhmylevLW70110-5000
Craig MacTavishC130118-6000
Jon CaseyG900000000
Donald DufresneD30004-2000
Charlie HuddyD120006-7000
Pat JablonskiG100000000
Fred KnipscheerC100020000
Bruce RacineG1100020000
Jamie RiversD30002-1000
Kevin SawyerLW600023-2000
Ken SuttonD60004-1000
Alexander VasilevskiRW10000-1000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Grant Fuhr4365793028162092.87321571948.903
Jon Casey3959230253.800180155.861
Pat Jablonski8100017.50054.800
Bruce Racine23011030123.13010189.881
Team:4998823234162472.97324432196.899

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Wayne GretzkyC132141602101
Shayne CorsonLW13861422-1611
Brett HullRW136511102211
Al MacInnisD13347202100
Igor KravchukD1015640001
Chris ProngerD13156160000
Brian NoonanRW1341510-5000
Stephen LeachRW11325104101
Glenn AndersonRW1114565001
Peter ZezelC1030324010
Geoff CourtnallLW13033142000
Adam CreightonC131128-4000
Yuri KhmylevLW611241001
Tony TwistLW10112160000
Jon CaseyG1202280000
Craig MacTavishC1302260000
Stephane MatteauLW110228-2000
Murray BaronD13101204010
Charlie HuddyD1310181000
Mike HudsonC/LW201141000
Jay WellsD1201120000
Grant FuhrG200000000
Basil McRaeLW200000000
Christer OlssonD30000-1000
Rob PearsonRW2000141000
Bruce RacineG100000000
Ken SuttonD100000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Jon Casey7471266362.891378342.905
Grant Fuhr6921010.8704544.978
Bruce Racine110000.00000
Team:8171376372.721423386.913

[3]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Roster

Center

Right Wing

Left Wing

Defense

Goalie

Transactions
  • July 28, 1995 – Doug Lidster was traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jay Wells.

Draft picks

The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last.

Round Pick Name Nationality College/junior/club team
249Jochen Hecht (LW) GermanyAdler Mannheim (DEL)
375Scott Roche (G) CanadaNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)
4101Michal Handzus (C) SlovakiaIskra Banská Bystrica (Slovakia)
5127Jeffrey Ambrosio (LW) CanadaBelleville Bulls (OHL)
6153Denis Hamel (LW) CanadaChicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
7179Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre (D) CanadaVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
8205Derek Bekar (C) CanadaPowell River Paper Kings (BCJHL)
9209Libor Zabransky (D) Czech RepublicHC České Budějovice (Czech Republic)

See also

References
  1. Wayne Gretzky's hockey statistics profile at hockeydb.com
  2. "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  3. "1995-96 St. Louis Blues Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
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