Alex Pietrangelo will be the Blues team captain for the 2016-17 season, the team announced at a press conference on Thursday, August 25, 2-16 at Scottrade Center.
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Joining him in leadership roles for the Blues will be Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny, Vladimir Tarasenko and Kevin Shattenkirk, who were named assistant captains Wednesday. Backes left the Blues earlier this summer to sign a five-year, $30 million free-agent deal with the Boston Bruins. Numerous team’s top players are still in their 20s, including Pietrangelo, Tarasenko, Jake Allen and Shattenkirk.
That was the exact message Pietrangelo got in a message from Pronger on Wednesday.
“That’s why we’re so happy with “Petro.’ For two reasons: Selfishly, because he’s learned so much from David to do things the right way and then secondly, he’s such a high character, quality person himself, you just know he’s going to give you everything every night”. I’m not going to change who I am as a player. “When his name comes up for Team Canada, he’s a lock when I talk to coaches around the league”. Former St. Louis captains Bobby Plager, Bernie Federko and Al MacInnis joined Pietrangelo on stage. This group of guys who have worn the “C” (here) have carried themselves in a way that I want to carry myself. “I think the captain has to be a good player and a good person but he has to be vocal because there’s way more distractions than there were before and I think Alex fits that bill perfectly”.
In 459 regular season games, the 26-year-old blue liner, has scored 51 goals and 204 assists.
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This past season he found the back of the net seven times and picked up the helpers on 30 more, in 73 games for the Blues. The defenseman also contributed 10 points in 20 playoff games last season, logging over a half four of ice time four games during the same span.
