Should the St. Louis Blues keep selling their roster, or are they on the right track to bounce back? Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens discuss. Brayden Schenn [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTEyNTI5NzcyMjU4NTA4/usatsi_19434590_168400847_lowres.jpg] Brayden Schenn The 24th and newest captain of the St. Louis Blues is Brayden Schenn, the team announced Tuesday. The Blues unveiled the rest of their leadership group as well – Robert Thomas, Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko will serve as alternate captains. Schenn, 32, has spent the past six seasons with the Blues, including as an alternate captain for the last three. The center from Saskatoon, Sask., heads into the season after recording 21 goals and 65 points in 82 games for the Blues in 2022-23. Center Ryan O'Reilly was the Blues' previous captain, who served in the role for two full seasons and part of last year before the team traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in February. Schenn and O'Reilly are just some of the leaders who wore the 'C' for the Blues, which includes the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Bernie Federko and many more. “The history of this franchise, the great captains they’ve had, and now getting your own name added to that extraordinary list, it’s a huge honor that I’m thankful for,” Schenn told the Blues website [https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/schenn-named-blues-24th-captain]. “I’m excited for the opportunity and the challenge this will bring.” Since being selected fifth overall in the 2009 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Schenn's played 858 career regular-season games split between L.A., the Philadelphia Flyers and Blues, with 240 goals and 349 assists for 589 points. Schenn won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2018-19 when Alex Pietrangelo wore the captain's 'C,' and he has 40 career playoff points in 75 contests. Blues coach Craig Berube says Schenn worked hard since Day 1 of joining the team, and with the rest of the leadership group helping him out, they won't have to change much. “For Schenn, he’ll be the same player,” Berube said to the team website. “There’s added responsibility for sure when you have a captain and extra things you have to do and take care of, but he’s ready for it.” Once Schenn steps on the ice to kick off his regular season, he'll begin his seventh campaign in St. Louis and pass his six years spent in Philadelphia as the most with one team in his career. “I’ve always said, St. Louis has been the best thing for me,” Schenn added. “Getting the opportunity to come here and play, winning the Stanley Cup and now (being named captain), it’s an opportunity for us to work together and get back to where we feel we should be as an organization. I’m looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to lead this team.” Another challenge heading into 2023-24 is working toward returning to the playoffs. The Blues finished 14 points out of the second wild card in the Western Conference last season with a 37-38-7 record for 81 points. After selling O'Reilly and longtime Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko leading up to the trade deadline, the team hasn't committed to a full rebuild but is focused more on a quicker retool. “I see our team to hold ourselves and the organization to hold ourselves to a high standard that we have a vision for our team, that we feel we have goals that we are going to achieve this year,” Schenn told reporters on Tuesday. “There's a good energy in our locker room right now. I know camp hasn't started, but there's a good excitement, and we're looking forward to this upcoming season.”
