Former Wheat Kings Captain Brayden Schenn Gets the 'C' in St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues have announced forward Brayden Schenn as the team's new captain.

The former captain of the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings will be donning a 'C' on his sweater for the first time since his major-junior days.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues announced forward Brayden Schenn as the 24th captain in franchise history. 

“I don’t think it has set in yet, to be honest,” Schenn said in a team release. “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. I’m excited for the opportunity and the challenge this will bring.”

Having gone without a captain since Ryan O'Reilly left via trade to Toronto last season, the team felt the 32-year-old Schenn was the best option going forward. 

Joining him as alternates will be Justin Faulk, Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko.

“Schenn is a leader,” said Blues head coach Craig Berube. “He’s an experienced player, he’s done a lot of really good things in St. Louis and he’s been part of a winning team. He shows leadership on and off the ice on a daily basis and he’s worked hard since Day 1 when he got here.”

2023-24 will be the Saskatchewan product's seventh season with the Blues and No. 15 in the NHL. He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers, to which he has a career total of 240 goals and 589 points in his 858 regular season games. 

He jumped to the NHL level following a sensational WHL career with the Wheat Kings and his hometown Saskatoon Blades, while also representing Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship on two occasions.

“I don’t think being the captain means you have to change much, you just be who you are,” Schenn added. “Just because I’m wearing a ‘C’ doesn’t mean I have to become someone I’m not. You rely on your teammates around you, that’s who is going to make you better. It’s about the guys in the locker room… you lean on your teammates and together we can get this thing moving in the right direction.”

Schenn is under contract through the 2027-28 season at a cap hit of $6.5 million. The Stanley Cup champion scored 21 times last season, while adding another 44 assists for 65 total points. 

He has an estimated $49 million in career earnings to his name.