Following the departure of Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues will be looking for the 22nd captain in club history. They likely won’t have to look long or far.
Not long after Ryan O’Reilly arrived from Buffalo in 2018, fans were quick to note that the 29-year-old had the characteristics of a player they could easily see wearing the “C.” Even some who supported Pietrangelo in that role said that if he ever left, O’Reilly would be the logical replacement.
Advertisement
Well, now that prestigious position — yes, it’s still an honor for players — is vacant.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong was asked about the team’s leadership group moving forward and said that it would feature O’Reilly “as part of a group of players. I think we’ve been a team that’s relied on the masses (more) than any one individual.”
That’s probably a strong indication that O’Reilly is a slam dunk to wear the “C” for the first time in his career. But since the Blues aren’t expected to make an announcement soon, let’s debate five potential candidates, making a case for each but also asking whether they’re really captain material or if they’re ready yet.
At the end of the article, I’ve also put together a poll in which you can cast your vote.
Ryan O’Reilly
Do I really need to make a case?
If there was any concern about O’Reilly’s lack of passion for the game in Buffalo, that is long gone. After his trade to St. Louis, he told Armstrong, “Let’s go win a Cup,” and that’s exactly what the Blues did in 2018-19. O’Reilly was instrumental in that effort with eight goals and 23 points in 26 playoff games, leading to him earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP.
The veteran certainly has the respect of his peer group in the Blues’ locker room, and the younger players, many of whom he has nurtured, look up to him as well.
There’s really no reason why O’Reilly wouldn’t be the next captain unless: A) He didn’t want it; or B) The Blues’ brass and O’Reilly decided that he’s still a leader even without the “C” and the club could instill some confidence in someone else while O’Reilly maintains his lofty status on the team.
But I can’t imagine O’Reilly wouldn’t accept the honor, and if he’s the guy who everyone views as the captain, then the Blues shouldn’t leave any doubt. Moving on from Pietrangelo is going to be an important transition for the organization, much like it was when Pietrangelo took over for David Backes, and it’s not a time to overthink the decision.
O’Reilly has three more seasons left on his current contract, and an extension is possible. At the very least, he’ll be here long enough to lead the Blues until someone from their younger generation of core players is ready for the role.
Vladimir Tarasenko
He obviously has the credentials with what he has done on the ice, being among the NHL’s top three goal-scorers from 2014 to 2019. And after overcoming the language barrier earlier in his career, he has become a vocal voice within the club, saying what’s on his mind and sticking up for teammates.
Tarasenko wearing the “C” would make sense, if it weren’t for one problem: He’s injured.
Advertisement
The right winger played only 14 games last season — 10 in the regular season before undergoing his second shoulder surgery and four in the playoffs after his recovery. But, of course, he left the Edmonton bubble early because of more discomfort in his shoulder and subsequently underwent a third surgery.
It’s not yet known when the 2020-2021 season will begin; the league has indicated Jan. 1, and there have been reports of Feb. 1. Either way, Tarasenko isn’t scheduled to be re-evaluated until February, and there are no guarantee he’ll even be able to play next season.
Like O’Reilly, Tarasenko has three more seasons remaining on his deal, so if the Blues thought of him as an obvious choice, perhaps it wouldn’t matter how long he’s out.
But between the injuries and some curiosity about how Tarasenko truly relates to teammates, it’s more likely that he would continue as an alternate captain, wearing an “A” on his sweater.
Brayden Schenn
A little over a year ago, it wasn’t clear whether Schenn would even be back with the Blues for the 2020-21 season. His contract was coming to an end, the club had just signed Justin Faulk to a big-money deal and Pietrangelo’s potential extension was still on the horizon.
Then Schenn signed a whopping eight-year, $52 million extension, signaling that the 29-year-old wasn’t going anywhere.
Blues fans may remember that before O’Reilly arrived, there were some who wanted the club to strip Pietrangelo of the “C” and give it to Schenn. He came over from Philadelphia in the trade for Jori Lehtera, and in his first season with the Blues, he posted a career-high 28 goals, which was second behind Tarasenko that season, and 70 points, which led the team. He was also the epitome of a St. Louis captain, a physical player (154 hits) who was willing to drop the gloves (two fights).
Advertisement
But with Pietrangelo having two more years left on his contract at the time, the topic of Schenn becoming captain quietly died, especially after O’Reilly got to town.
Here’s one thought to ponder, though: Schenn is under contract for the next eight years. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll see the end of his contract in St. Louis, but if the Blues were looking for long-term stability with the “C,” would they consider giving it to a player who’s worthy and will be around for a while?
Perhaps they would, but the organization could just as well give it to O’Reilly, then after he leaves, turn to a younger player such as Colton Parayko or Robert Thomas.
Colton Parayko
He’s expected to take over Pietrangelo’s role on the blueline. Could he take over the “C,” too?
My guess is that the Blues are hoping Parayko will assume more of a leadership role, but the chances of him becoming the captain seem remote.
Pietrangelo was 26 when the club anointed him, and Parayko is 27; Pietrangelo had played 459 games at the time, while Parayko has played 386. So it’s not a question of age or experience, but from a development perspective, Pietrangelo had already been a No. 1 defenseman and had twice finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting before taking over.
Yes, Parayko has been relied on heavily in his career, playing in a shutdown pair and logging massive minutes, but he’s going to have enough on his shoulders proving that he can continue to elevate his game.
He has been the Blues’ NHL Players’ Association full-time representative for the past three seasons, helping navigate the league through the “Return to Play” format last year, so he has shown that he’s capable of being in charge. But with two seasons left on his contract and more responsibility expected on the ice next season, the extra responsibility that come with the “C” could be an unnecessary distraction.
As mentioned, O’Reilly’s contract is up in three years, and hypothetically if he didn’t return after that, Parayko might be a perfect candidate at that point. He will have had ample time to get comfortable as a more prominent player in the lineup and will have settled his contract situation.
Jaden Schwartz
He is an interesting candidate, in that he has been one of the Blues’ core players for seven full seasons but his name doesn’t get mentioned often with regard to the “C.”
Schwartz has been highly productive and an analytics dream player, but being around the team for his entire career, I think I know why he doesn’t get much consideration.
Advertisement
No. 1, the 28-year-old suffered several injuries early in his career that kept him out of the lineup, giving him a reputation of being injury-prone. No. 2, while he has been dogged defensively and his style of play can be contagious within the team, he has been streaky offensively, leading to questions about how much he can actually be counted on.
But Schwartz has remained relatively healthy in recent years, and he has gotten back on track with 12 goals and 20 points in 26 games during the 2018-19 playoffs and 22 goals and 57 points in 71 games in the 2019-20 regular season, so perhaps those issues are a bit overblown.
I think what it may come down to with Schwartz is that he’s a quiet guy. There are leaders and followers, and he may not be the proverbial follower because he does lead by example. But while he’s loved by teammates, he’s not seen as someone who can galvanize the group, so the “A” he has worn in the past fits him well.
If the Blues were considering Schwartz, though, another factor in play could be his contract, which is up after the 2020-21 season. He could easily re-up with the club, but that may not happen before the team names Pietrangelo’s successor, so with that uncertainty, he seems like a longshot.
Honorable mention
- Alexander Steen: He was considered when the Blues gave the “C” to Pietrangelo and has the respect of the organization and his teammates, but at age 36 and in the final year of his contract, it wouldn’t make much sense this time around. He’s also injured and may not be available when the 2020-21 season begins.
- David Perron: He’s a fan favorite and also has the respect of the org and teammates. But he’s viewed more as an emotional leader, and with players such as O’Reilly available for the job, he wouldn’t get much consideration. He’s 32 and has just two years left on his contract, so continuity also becomes an issue.
In mid-April, we conducted a fan survey, in which one of the questions was: “If Alex Pietrangelo leaves the organization, who should be the next captain?”
There were 1,291 responses to the query and O’Reilly overwhelmingly came out on top. Here’s a look at the top four finishers with a breakdown of the number of votes (and percentage) they received …
| Player | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Ryan O'Reilly | 896 | 69.4% |
Vladimir Tarasenko | 241 | 18.7% |
Brayden Schenn | 63 | 4.9% |
Colton Parayko | 63 | 4.9% |
The purpose of showing that survey again isn’t to influence the upcoming vote, but instead illustrate what fans were thinking back then and how it might differ when the new results are calculated.
I’ve included our five candidates, but you can write in any player you want by using the “other” category and adding their name. I’ll tabulate those votes as well and include them in the final count.
So let’s get voting!
Thank you for reading and participating, and I hope you enjoyed the debate, even if it’s not much of a debate in the eyes of many Blues fans.
(Top photo of O’Reilly: Dave Sandford / NHLI via Getty Images)
