maybe they'll get one when the franchise honors four players in a 'Salute to 7' night honoring four greats that wore jersey No. 7. Red Berenson, Garry Unger, Joe Mullen and Keith Tkachuk will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
"That should get the guys going," D'Agostini said. "You know who's in the building. You don't want to let everyone down. Regardless of what's going on tomorrow, the boys will get it going. We know we've got to be better.
"I grew up watching a guy like Keith Tkachuk. To play with him last year was an honor. It'll be good to see him again."
Berenson, who wore No. 7 from 1967-71, ranks 12th all-time in Blues history in games played (519) while slotting seventh in goals (172) and eighth in both points (412) and assists (240).
Now in his 27th season as head coach at the University of Michigan, Berenson also served behind the bench for the Blues from 1980-82. In three years, he led the Blues to a 100-72-32 record and ranks second all-time among Blues coaches with a .569 points percentage. In addition, the six-time NHL All-Star holds two NHL/franchise records as he scored six goals in one game on Nov. 7, 1968 at Philadelphia including four in the second period.
Unger, who was the next player after Berenson to wear No. 7 (1970-79), is the fourth longest tenured Blue in club history. In 662 games, the Calgary, Alberta native accumulated some of the franchise?s top career offensive numbers, including fourth all-time in goals (292) and points (575), sixth in assists (283), third in hat tricks (seven) and game-winning goals (40) while remaining the club leader in game-tying goals (19).
In addition, the seven-time All-Star?s 662 career games came in consecutive fashion, a club record, and he remains one of two players in Blues? history to record seven points in one game.
Mullen, who wore No. 7 from 1979-86, played 301 career games for the Blues and ranks 11th all-time in goals (151), 20th in assists (184) and 13th in points (335). A veteran of 16 NHL seasons, Mullen is one of seven players in franchise history to have averaged over a point per game while with the club.
The New York, New York native was also one of the NHL?s most prolific U.S.-born players becoming the first to score 500 goals and record 1,000 points. Overall, he finished his 1,062-game career ranking sixth all-time among U.S.-born skaters in points (1,063), fifth in goals (502) and 11th in assists (561). A three-time NHL All-Star, Mullen was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.
Tkachuk, who was the last player to wear No. 7 (2000-10), retired last season after an 18-year NHL career that included parts of nine seasons in the BlueNote.
A five-time NHL All-Star, Tkachuk ranks 11th in club history in games played (543), fifth in goals (208), 13th in assists (219), seventh in points (427) and tied for fifth in game-winning goals (29).
In addition, the Melrose, Massachusetts native finished his career as one of the most productive U.S.-born players in NHL history ranking third in goals (538), fifth in points (1,065) as well as first all-time in power play goals (212).
"I know of the history and the great accomplishments they've all had," Backes said. "It'll be a special night and hopefully that's the incentive and the boost that we need to get going.
"It's the NHL. You shouldn't need extra motivation, but if that's what it takes, we'll have a great Monday."
"That should get the guys going," D'Agostini said. "You know who's in the building. You don't want to let everyone down. Regardless of what's going on tomorrow, the boys will get it going. We know we've got to be better.
"I grew up watching a guy like Keith Tkachuk. To play with him last year was an honor. It'll be good to see him again."
Berenson, who wore No. 7 from 1967-71, ranks 12th all-time in Blues history in games played (519) while slotting seventh in goals (172) and eighth in both points (412) and assists (240).
Now in his 27th season as head coach at the University of Michigan, Berenson also served behind the bench for the Blues from 1980-82. In three years, he led the Blues to a 100-72-32 record and ranks second all-time among Blues coaches with a .569 points percentage. In addition, the six-time NHL All-Star holds two NHL/franchise records as he scored six goals in one game on Nov. 7, 1968 at Philadelphia including four in the second period.
Unger, who was the next player after Berenson to wear No. 7 (1970-79), is the fourth longest tenured Blue in club history. In 662 games, the Calgary, Alberta native accumulated some of the franchise?s top career offensive numbers, including fourth all-time in goals (292) and points (575), sixth in assists (283), third in hat tricks (seven) and game-winning goals (40) while remaining the club leader in game-tying goals (19).
In addition, the seven-time All-Star?s 662 career games came in consecutive fashion, a club record, and he remains one of two players in Blues? history to record seven points in one game.
Mullen, who wore No. 7 from 1979-86, played 301 career games for the Blues and ranks 11th all-time in goals (151), 20th in assists (184) and 13th in points (335). A veteran of 16 NHL seasons, Mullen is one of seven players in franchise history to have averaged over a point per game while with the club.
The New York, New York native was also one of the NHL?s most prolific U.S.-born players becoming the first to score 500 goals and record 1,000 points. Overall, he finished his 1,062-game career ranking sixth all-time among U.S.-born skaters in points (1,063), fifth in goals (502) and 11th in assists (561). A three-time NHL All-Star, Mullen was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.
Tkachuk, who was the last player to wear No. 7 (2000-10), retired last season after an 18-year NHL career that included parts of nine seasons in the BlueNote.
A five-time NHL All-Star, Tkachuk ranks 11th in club history in games played (543), fifth in goals (208), 13th in assists (219), seventh in points (427) and tied for fifth in game-winning goals (29).
In addition, the Melrose, Massachusetts native finished his career as one of the most productive U.S.-born players in NHL history ranking third in goals (538), fifth in points (1,065) as well as first all-time in power play goals (212).
"I know of the history and the great accomplishments they've all had," Backes said. "It'll be a special night and hopefully that's the incentive and the boost that we need to get going.
"It's the NHL. You shouldn't need extra motivation, but if that's what it takes, we'll have a great Monday."
