St. Louis Blues: On The Ninth Day Of Bluesmas 2020
By Todd Panula
On the ninth day of Bluesmas, our true love gave to us – the new captain of your St. Louis Blues.
So, since I was struggling with a ninth day of Bluesmas for your St. Louis Blues, the team decided to give me a gift. Just a day after all the announcing about the NHL’s return to play and some key dates, the Blues have a new captain.
Now, it should be noted that this is not team press release official. However, when Jeremy Rutherford is the source, he does not usually break anything until he knows he will not be wrong.
So, with that in mind, it is safe to say that Ryan O’Reilly will be the team’s 23rd captain in franchise history. This was probably one of the worst kept secrets since most fans automatically assumed it would be O’Reilly once Alex Pietrangelo left.
Nevertheless, it is the wisest choice. O’Reilly is a natural leader.
More from Editorials
- St. Louis Blues Need Kasperi Kapanen To Be On Best Behavior
- Hayes’ Debut And Other Bold Predictions for the St. Louis Blues
- St. Louis Blues Captaincy Is Suddenly A Huge Problem For 2023-24
- St. Louis Blues National Games Cause More Problems Than They’re Worth
- St. Louis Blues Brayden Schenn Has To Be An Impact Player In 2023-24
He’s the kind of guy you want as a captain. Ever since joining the team, we have heard stories about O’Reilly’s work ethic and staying after practice to help guys, either with faceoff drills or to take extra shots on goalies.
That is not a prerequisite of a captain, but that’s the guy you want in charge if you can choose it. You want someone willing to lead by example.
O’Reilly shrugged off the “cursed player” stigma when the Blues won the Stanley Cup and he won the Conn Smythe as well. Prior to that, some wondered if O’Reilly was the problem since Colorado and Buffalo looked better after his departure, but that was mere coincidence and in Buffalo’s case, was quite temporary.
O’Reilly will not just be a figurhead either. He is still in the prime of his career and going to put up plenty of points.
It is somewhat amusing how things played out that O’Reilly is likely the best choice, but given circumstances, he was the only choice. Alex Steen had to retire due to injury and Vladimir Tarasenko is trying to come back from another shoulder surgery and those were your two other choices.
The only other candidate was possibly Brayden Schenn, especially since he’s under a longer-term deal. Still, Schenn strikes me more as that guy that will get loud in the locker room and get guys pumped up, but O’Reilly is better suited to be that calm, steady influence.
It is also fitting that the ninth day names a captain with the number 90. He’s the day times 10.
On the eighth day of Bluesmas. dark. Next
If he can be the previous captain times 10, we’ll be in for plenty of wins. The last one won a Stanley Cup, so just imagine that.
Unlikely, sure. In fact, O’Reilly just needs to be as good as Petro was, but it’s the holiday season. Let’s think big.