Welcome to our next installment of the “Best St. Louis Blue by Sweater Number” series. In today’s installment, we will look at the best St. Louis Blue to wear sweater numbers 51-60.
Best St. Louis Blue by Sweater Number: 51-60
#51 Matthew Kessel (Defenceman)
Kessel has only played in 41 NHL games, but he has shown promise in his short sample size. Last season, Kessel set a career high in games played with 39. He also picked up his first NHL goal.
The Blues are short on right-handed defenceman this upcoming season. Kessel may find himself in the lineup with a chance to become a regular in the NHL. His career is young, but the future is bright!
#52 Noel Acciari (Forward)
Before joining the Blues prior to the 2022-23 season, Acciari already had a place in Blues history. Unfortunately for Acciari, he is on the wrong side of it. In Game 5 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, Acciari, then a member of the Boston Bruins, was tripped by Blues centre Tyler Bozak. However, no penalty was called. Moments later, David Perron scored what ended up being the game-wining goal. The Boston Bruins were livid, but their tweet about it was pretty hilarious.
Acciari joined the Blues the same season the team began to transition to a retool. However, Acciari still had some nice moments with them. He provided depth for the Blues forward lines and spent top on the top lines as well as the bottom lines. He was one of the few bright spots that season.
Noel Acciari is tripped. St. Louis scores. Unbelievable.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 7, 2019
#53 Jonas Junland (Defenceman)
Junland only played in four NHL games. He had two assists in those four games. Furthermore, one of them came in Keith Tkachuk‘s final NHL game. That counts for something, right?
#54 Dakota Joshua (Forward)
Joshua started his NHL career with the Blues, playing 42 games with them. Furthermore, Joshua got to play in some late-season games as the Blues were competing for a spot in the playoffs in the 2021-22 season.
Joshua left the Blues after that season. He joined the Vancouever Canucks and set a career high in goals last year with 18.
#55 Colton Parayko (Defenceman)
Finally, someone in this installment who will have more than a few words said about them. Parayko is the longest-tenured Blue, having made his debut in the 2015-16 season. In his rookie season, he helped the Blues reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2001. Furthermore, Parayko was a key part of the Blues run to the Stanley Cup in 2019. Playing alongside Jay Bouwmeester, Parayko helped shut down the top lines of the Blues opponents. One of Parayko’s memorable moments from the playoff run was his slap shot that stunned goaltender Ben Bishop.
After a rough 2022-23 season, Parayko bounced back last year for the Blues. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Parayko is considered the Blues top defenceman. In addition, Parayko has been a leader in the Blues locker room, and will look to continue that moving forward.
Ben Bishop breaks down being hit up high by Colton Parayko and the ensuing play last spring in the playoffs. #stlblues #Gostars @camandstrickpod pic.twitter.com/AVoN8XG65l
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) May 2, 2020
#56 Magnus Paajarvi (Forward)
Paajarvi came to the Blues in a 2013 trade. For five seasons, Paajarvi was a reliable forward for the Blues. He never played in more than 48 games in a season. However, he was still someone the Blues could rely on to insert into the lineup and be a productive player on the ice.
Paajarvi did give the Blues a fun playoff moment in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blues faced the Minnesota Wild in the first round. After four games, the Blues led the series 3-1. Game 5 went into overtime. As Vladimir Sobotka moved the puck along the boards, Paajarvi moved to the net. As a result, Paajarvi was in a perfect position to take a pass and score the series-winning goal. In some ways, the goal has been overshadowed by the heroics of goaltender Jake Allen in the series, but it is still nice that Paajarvi was able to have his moment.
#57 David Perron (Forward)
Perron has had three different stints with the Blues. As we talked about in a “Since 2000” installment, each stint highlighted a different stage in his career. In his third stint, from 2018-2022, Perron became an elite player in the NHL. In those four seasons, Perron scored 20+ goals in three of them. Furthermore, Perron was very effective in the playoffs. In four playoff runs with the Blues, Perron scored 20 goals. This includes a game-winning goal in Game Five of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, as well as a hat trick in the Blues 2022 opening-game against the Minnesota Wild.
Perron left the Blues in free agency after the 2021-22 season. Fans were hopeful there may be a fourth reunion this off-season, but it was not to be. Regardless, Perron’s time with the Blues is one fans will look back on fondly.
#58 Dan Hinote (Forward)
Hinote is the only player to wear number 58 in Blues history. Furthermore, he did not even wear it the entire time he was a Blue. He wore it briefly during the 2007 season. After Bill Guerin was traded, Hinote switched to number 13.
Hinote scored 11 goals in three seasons with the Blues. He was a player capable of dropping the gloves when need be. Furthermore, Hinote was part of the Blues roster that rallied from a last-place spot in the Western Conference to making the playoffs in 2009.
#59 Jeff Hogan (Forward)
Hogan is a nice story of perseverance. Hogan did not make his NHL debut until he was 27-years old. Many players would be at or entering the prime of their careers at that age. For Hogan, he proved that determination and perseverance does pay off.
He played 52 games in the rough 2005-06 season for the Blues.
#60
For the first time in this series, we have a number that no Blue has worn.
Until We Meet Again
This was not our most star-filled installment. However, we did get to talk about two Stanley Cup Champions, and even a player who was on the wrong side of the 2019 title.
As it is, lists like this one are going to become more of the norm as we continue. However, it will be a nice way to bring attention to some lesser-known players as we go down memory lane. Have no fear, however. We still have some more Stanley Cup Champions to cover. Furthermore, let us not forget that number 99 is lingering at the end of the series.
Main Photo: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
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