5 reasons why Brayden Schenn should be the next Blues captain
Make it official, Armstrong.
We are weeks away from the first preseason NHL game, and less than a month away from the opening game of the 2023-24 season. Yet, the St. Louis Blues do not have a captain designated on their roster. It’s like having a warehouse full of workers with no official lead; work would get done, but chaos would ensue.
This is a problem the Blues have faced since trading Ryan O’Reilly to Toronto earlier this year in an attempt to accumulate draft picks. The new Nashville Predator (ugh!) took over the C from Alex Pietrangelo after the latter signed a deal with Vegas. All things considered, both men wore the patch well and represented the team in an exemplary fashion. That is something I believe Brayden Schenn could do well for the team in a time of need.
Brevity is the requirement, so the Blues can’t wait too much longer before making a choice and the announcement. It’s not embarrassing to run out a team with no selected leader, but it’s also not a good look either. The other team would feel like they’re playing a band of misfit toys or rogues instead of a real unit. If we’re being honest, Schenn’s captaincy could provide some balance to a currently rocky Blues ship and offer up a little identity.
If every player on that roster played like Schenn, the Blues would be a Stanley Cup contender. He’s a throwback in a modern package of true grit and talent blended to purely bleed blue and strive for more summer days with a Cup. Schenn bleeds the same way Petro and O’Reilly did in St. Louis.
But since people love lists and they’re catnip for writers to express their point, let’s go with five reasons.
5) Long-term contract offers stability
In other words, he’s not going anywhere. Schenn signed an eight year extension in 2019, locking his presence on the blue line down at Enterprise through the 2027-28 season. If all things go well, I can imagine another career-capping extension follows this one. His skills sure aren’t diminishing. The $52 million dollar guaranteed contract has a cap hit that doesn’t rise to 22% until his final season, helping the team assemble a strong roster.
4) He gives 110% every game
Max effort, win or lose. Schenn is a Gordie Howe throwback, scoring with his stick and being unafraid to throw his hands as well. While I’ve made the argument that Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt look as interested in games these days as a bored kid at a golf club, you’d never get that impression from Schenn. He goes hard every single game. That’s captain work.
3) Versatility is his game
Schenn’s game isn’t going downhill as he climbs over the 30-year-old wall. It’s steadying out, revealing new shades and consistency with age. His game doesn’t rely on a single facet to be hitting all the time; Schenn can score, assist, and engage a troublesome opponent in a fight if necessary. He’ll outscore your best guy, and beat the shit out of your goon… all without losing movie star quality hair. It’s okay to be jealous. After a few solid seasons in Philly, Schenn took his game to a whole new level in St. Louis. He enjoyed a 70-point season his first time through, and put up 65 points last season. No slow down in his near future.
2) Wear a banner trade on your captain’s chest
Philadelphia sure is jealous. They are still waiting for Jori Lehtera to reach his potential in their wildest dreams. The former Blues and NHL center-the recipient for the Flyers in the Schenn trade-put up eleven points in 89 games for Philly, and now plays for Tappara of the Liiga, a team in the Finland Professional Hockey League.
1) A team veteran before their captain
This may be a throw in, but the importance can’t be overstated. In good faith to my “stick to movies” fans, it’s like an actor being in a good amount of movies before being given a big-time role. Think of Daniel Craig and James Bond, Christian Bale and Batman, etc. Schenn came here in a great trade, has played in half a dozen seasons, and won the city’s first Stanley Cup. He didn’t adopt the airport; Schenn helped build it.
Let him run the ship. He’s the best choice. Thank you and please consider adopting a dog. Animal Protective Agencies here in St. Louis are overrun by adorable, loving animals. They just need homes.