Blues seeing Stars after Hull signing
by Tom Cooper,
St. Louis Correspondent
It's the end of an era in the Gateway City.
When the St. Louis Blues lost to the Detroit Red Wings 6-1 in the
sixth and final game of their Western Conference semifinal series
this past May, many supporters of the Bluenotes feared what
eventually was inevitable: that game would be the final one with
Brett Hull wearing the St. Louis blue and yellow.
The inevitable happened July 3, when the free agent right winger
signed a three-year, $17 million deal with the Dallas Stars.
Gone is a man who scored 527 goals for St. Louis. Gone is the
loudest voice from the clubhouse. Gone is a sports icon for an
entire city.
Gone is Brett Hull.
But Hull's departure seemed to be written on the walls of the Kiel
Center even before the third of July.
September 1997 - Brett Hull and agent Mike Barnett break off
talks with Blues management to concentrate on the upcoming season.
March 18, 1998 - National Hockey League deadline for all
trades. Goaltender Grant Fuhr signs a three-year deal with a
no-trade clause. Brett Hull turns down a three-year, $15 million
contract because of its lack of a no-trade clause.
May 14, 1998 - St. Louis loses Game 4 of its Western
Conference semifinal series against Detroit, 5-2, in the Kiel
Center. Before the game ends, restless fans start to boo Brett
Hull.
May 19, 1998 - St. Louis eliminated from the 1998 Stanley Cup
Playoffs with a 6-1 loss against Detroit (Detroit wins four games to
two).
June 12, 1998 - St. Louis signs free agent-to-be Al MacInnis
to a three-year, $15 million contract. The contract includes a
no-trade clause.
June 30, 1998 - Blues' General Manager Larry Pleau telephones
Brett Hull to tell him that his services are no longer needed with
the Blues.
July 1, 1998 - Brett Hull becomes an unrestricted free agent
at 12:01 a.m.
July 3, 1998 - Brett Hull signs a three-year, $17 million
deal with the Dallas Stars.
Although Hull was the cornerstone of the franchise, his disputes
with coaches and management have been well documented over the past
four seasons. Over the first two years, Hull and then head coach
Mike Keenan butted heads on a regular basis, with more rumors of
trades for Hull flying around than moths around a porch light. Once
Keenan was canned, Hull's newest nemesis was Blues' management,
especially during the 1997-1998 season.
But the kicker came when Al MacInnis signed his multi-year contract,
the same exact contract Hull wanted. But what made the situation
worse was Pleau's comments on the importance of MacInnis.
"To a man, everyone within our hockey department agrees that Al
MacInnis is our most valuable player," Pleau said. "He proved it down
the stretch in March and April, and he proved it in the playoffs. Al
raises the level of play of his teammates and is a genuine leader.
"Our No. 1 priority was to sign Al MacInnis, so today's (June 12)
announcement is a win-win for our organization and Blues fans."
Ouch!
If Hull saw a ray of light between the frame and the door that is
his future in St. Louis, it was clearly slammed shut and locked
with those words.
"Since the new group has come in," Hull said, "I don't think there
has been a whole lot of respect given to me and what I have done
for the organization. It didn't surprise me at all."
And that is the reason why Hull won't be in a Blues uniform next
year.
So, what's next for the Blues? Well, they need to figure out where
their goals will come from. Gone are Hull and his 27 goals from
last year, an off- year for the man who once netted 86 goals in a
single season. To help get some of that production back, St. Louis
acquired Scott Young via free agency, but he will have to improve
greatly on his 13-goal season in 1997-98 before he can even begin
to fill the shoes of "The Golden Brett."
So, an era has ended. Gone is his raspy voice. Gone is his ability
to find the open spot in the opponent's defense. Gone is his quick
shot. Gone is No. 16 (It was announced that no other St. Louis
Blue player will wear Hull's number again).
But did the Blues' chance to win Lord Stanley's Cup go to Dallas
with Brett Hull?
Only time will tell.
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