2. Adam Oates
We all remember Hull and rightly so, given he is the best pure goal scorer many of us have ever seen. He is definitely the Blues best pure scorer of all time, even if he remains behind one of our other guys on this list in total points.
However, in Hull’s formative years with the Blues, it was the Hull and Oates connection that made the team so potent. Fans of the Blues from that era are always left with gigantic what if’s had that duo been left together instead of being more like ships passing in the night.
Adam Oates had been a decent player until the point when he was traded to the Blues from Detroit. However, he instantly made a connection with the Blues best scorer and they took off for heights unimagined.
After a previous career high of 78 points, Oates scored 102 points in his first season with the Blues. He then topped that with a 115 point performance in 1990-91.
Sadly, that was it. It was a brief flash and then it was over.
Oates had 69 points with the Blues the following season before the team traded him. Even sadder, it all ended because of contract squabbles.
Oates signed a new contract prior to the 1991-92 season. He then felt slighted by the offers given to other players the Blues brought in. Oates threatened to walk out, the fans turned on him, since this was an era when players never won the public sentiment battles, and the trade happened.
We’ve gone over how well Janney played in his stead. However, there was not that same chemistry that Oates and Hull had. While the Blues always had other problems, you just can’t help but wonder if those two could have let them to a championship if they stayed together.