Is Schenn The Best Blues Captain of All Time?

[DawgDad]

I’m probably older than most but my vote is Brian Sutter, he was heart and soul!

Barclay Plager before. You must not be old enough!

Any list without Brian Sutter and Barclay Plager is incomplete.

[DawgDad]

So, now that we have Sutter and Plager rightfully placed in the conversation, no, Schenn is not the greatest Blues Captain, at least not yet. He deserves immense credit for helping transform the Blues into a Cup team as a player and for undertaking the Captain role through this transition. He's a savvy veteran.

I believe without looking it up Schenn finished with 50 points. Watching the Predators last night the announcers made a big deal out of ROR reaching 50 points. I find it fascinating how different their team's fortunes were this season, especially in view of the preseason expectations. As players these guys clearly are not what they used to be, 1A and 1B. Now, as leaders, they are in two very different places.

[BobbyBlue]

Been a Blues fan since the very beginning. I totally agree that you should not look at who the best player was and equate that with who the best Blues Captain was…just because one was the best Blues player and wore the “C” does not make him the best Blues Captain. IMO…in no particular order…these are the men who bled blue the most when wearing the “C” and who exemplified that the Blue Note on the front of their Jersey meant more than their name on the back and/or the money they made, would make or even sought to make;

1) Brian Sutter
2) Barclay Plager
3) Brendan Schenn
4) Al Arbour
5) Scott Stevens

While David Backes was an admirable “C”…he let his contract extension get in the way of remaining a Blues Captain because he wanted an extra year more on his contract which he didn’t get from the Blues and went to the Bruins instead…and painfully watched from the press box as the team he onced Captained hoisted the Stanley Cup without him. Alex P…the only Blues Captain to ever hoist the Cup…also let money, contract extension, a no movement clause and pride get in the way of remaining a Captain of the Blues and perhaps lay claim to being the best Blues Captain ever…by choosing to sign elsewhere…and therefore fails to qualify for the list…IMO.

[TimmyVee]

I’m probably older than most but my vote is Brian Sutter, he was heart and soul!

Barclay Plager before. You must not be old enough!

Any list without Brian Sutter and Barclay Plager is incomplete.

I’m old enough, I have seen them all and I agree BP belongs but when I am forced to pick one, I choose [nonsense].

[DawgDad]

Been a Blues fan since the very beginning. I totally agree that you should not look at who the best player was and equate that with who the best Blues Captain was…just because one was the best Blues player and wore the “C” does not make him the best Blues Captain. IMO…in no particular order…these are the men who bled blue the most when wearing the “C” and who exemplified that the Blue Note on the front of their Jersey meant more than their name on the back and/or the money they made, would make or even sought to make;

1) Brian Sutter
2) Barclay Plager
3) Brendan Schenn
4) Al Arbour
5) Scott Stevens

While David Backes was an admirable “C”…he let his contract extension get in the way of remaining a Blues Captain because he wanted an extra year more on his contract which he didn’t get from the Blues and went to the Bruins instead…and painfully watched from the press box as the team he onced Captained hoisted the Stanley Cup without him. Alex P…the only Blues Captain to ever hoist the Cup…also let money, contract extension, a no movement clause and pride get in the way of remaining a Captain of the Blues and perhaps lay claim to being the best Blues Captain ever…by choosing to sign elsewhere…and therefore fails to qualify for the list…IMO.

I agree. But hey, I'm old and you must be, too. I hope the younger generations will trust what we have to say about Plager and Sutter, us having been around while each and every one of the candidates was playing.

As for bleeding Blue there are any number of alumni who qualify. Don't have to look any farther than Bernie Federko on TV. Rivers, Chaser, MacInnis, Pronger, on and on.

[Whatashame]

How short is our memory. Brian Sutter will always be the best captain the Blues will ever have. Barclay Plager was a close second but Sutter was the heart and soul of the Blues. Schenn is Sutter lite.

I wish Brian had more to do with the Blues than he does but he likes his farm life and just wants to enjoy the farm and his family.

[Backesdraft]

If you’re talking about most skilled captain, then I think the list probably starts and ends with Hull or Mac. Do we really count Gretzky’s brief tenure?

If you’re talking about other captain-like intangibles, I think guys like Pronger, Backes, Schenn, Plager, Sutter, have to be in the mix. These are guys that just left it in the ice every game.

Really hard to pick the ‘best’

[TAFKAP]

Been a Blues fan since the very beginning. I totally agree that you should not look at who the best player was and equate that with who the best Blues Captain was…just because one was the best Blues player and wore the “C” does not make him the best Blues Captain. IMO…in no particular order…these are the men who bled blue the most when wearing the “C” and who exemplified that the Blue Note on the front of their Jersey meant more than their name on the back and/or the money they made, would make or even sought to make;

1) Brian Sutter
2) Barclay Plager
3) Brendan Schenn
4) Al Arbour
5) Scott Stevens

While David Backes was an admirable “C”…he let his contract extension get in the way of remaining a Blues Captain because he wanted an extra year more on his contract which he didn’t get from the Blues and went to the Bruins instead…and painfully watched from the press box as the team he onced Captained hoisted the Stanley Cup without him. Alex P…the only Blues Captain to ever hoist the Cup…also let money, contract extension, a no movement clause and pride get in the way of remaining a Captain of the Blues and perhaps lay claim to being the best Blues Captain ever…by choosing to sign elsewhere…and therefore fails to qualify for the list…IMO.

I agree. But hey, I'm old and you must be, too. I hope the younger generations will trust what we have to say about Plager and Sutter, us having been around while each and every one of the candidates was playing.

As for bleeding Blue there are any number of alumni who qualify. Don't have to look any farther than Bernie Federko on TV. Rivers, Chaser, MacInnis, Pronger, on and on.

There is really no way to quantify "Best Captain", It's like "Best Play By Play Guy". It's all about how a person feels about a player. I have no connection to anybody before Hull. Now if you want to ask Who is the guy who truly "Bleeds Blue" I don't see how it could be anyone other than Bobby Plager. I always thought he should get a statue, not with the others, but by the doors greeting fans on the way in to Enterprise. He was one of a kind.

[Frank Barone]

If you’re talking about most skilled captain, then I think the list probably starts and ends with Hull or Mac. Do we really count Gretzky’s brief tenure?

If you’re talking about other captain-like intangibles, I think guys like Pronger, Backes, Schenn, Plager, Sutter, have to be in the mix. These are guys that just left it in the ice every game.

Really hard to pick the ‘best’

This is a good list, but I'd have to say that Brian Sutter is the #1 captain of the Blues. Schenn has been a great captain and deserves to be in this top five.

[BalotelliMassive]

I get it that everybody has to question if what they're watching is currently the best of all time but God no on this one...

[callitwhatyouwant]

To clarify, most posters interpreted this the right way. But the question is about being a Blue. Is he the best captain of all time that personifies that. Yes, prisoner of the moment. But schenn is faced with some crazy elements and the culture of today is to get Mine, and he does everything to help everyone else. That part is awesome. Currently on 101, rivers is quoted as saying “if you liked sutter, you need to be paying attention to schenn.” A lot of you posters who have that experience are saying the same.

Regardless, what has happened this year has to be an all timer. And he was the catalyst for the cup. If you would have told yourself in 2025, that schenn would have the same amount of points as barbashev, you would have taken it right?

[TBone]

Schenn is a great captain.

A leader in word and deed who drops the mitts when he has to.

[Harry S Deals]

Another solid season 50 pts, EVEN, 194 Hits 82 GP i dont know how to quantify the Best Blues Captain of All Time but i'll say if Schenning does some good things vs the Jets, thats going to be another feather in his cap towards his legacy here. Are we already in statue territory?

[Cardsfanforlife]

no hes not.

petro was. hate him or love him.

[Old_Goat]

I’m probably older than most but my vote is Brian Sutter, he was heart and soul!

And great consideration must also be given to Bobby Plager, Barc Plager and Al Arbour!!!!!!!!!

A lot of great names mentioned. And a lot of excellent Captains, including Schenn. Stevens was great, but unfortunately was only here one season. Actually Dallas Drake was fantastic, but the level of talent throughout the team was not enough for good results, so it is tough to include him.
No disparagement of Schenn whatsoever, and I think Brian Sutter's fire & style, his longevity and the multiple playoff accomplishments of the team during financial distress put him almost to the top...
But for me, the best for All-Time is Barclay Plager.

[TBone]

no hes not.

petro was. hate him or love him.

The player who never even picked up a stick during the COVID break and then played like it in the bubble?

That's not what captains are made of. And do we even need to talk about when he tries to act like a tough guy?