2015–16 St. Louis Blues season

On March 9, the NHL announced that the Winter Classic will be held in St. Louis, at Busch Stadium on January 2, 2017, against their inter-division rival Chicago Blackhawks. It will be the first time the Blues have hosted it, and the 23rd NHL team to play in an outdoor game. It will be the 9th NHL Winter Classic, with the game marking the 50th anniversary of the inaugural season of Blues hockey when it was admitted to the NHL in June 1967.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=872921 |title=Winter Classic Comes to St. Louis in 2017: Busch Stadium will serve as host to Blues / Blackhawks game on Jan. 2, 2017 |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 9, 2016}}

On March 25, the Blues clinched a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=875507 |title=Game Notes - Blues 4, Canucks 0 |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 25, 2016}} with a win over the Vancouver Canucks, 4–0, at home. Brian Elliott registered his third consecutive shutout (4th of the season, one fewer than Jake Allen) tying the franchise record with Greg Millen who did in from Dec. 1–6 in 1989, turning aside 15 shots, after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury. Elliott's previous three consecutive shutout streaks came from March 22–27 in 2012, and again from April 7–11, 2013. He shutout the Canucks earlier in the week on March 19, 3–0 at Vancouver, stopping 19 shots, and on March 22 against the San Jose Sharks, 1–0, stopping 37 shots, some on 5-3 and 6-3 penalty kills near the end of the game. Rookie defenseman Joel Edmundson ("Eddy"), scored his first NHL goal, while Kyle Brodziak got the Blues on the board first with his second short-handed goal of the season. Fellow rookie, center Robby Fabbri scored his 18th goal of the season, pushing the Blues to a 2–0 lead in the first period. Carl Gunnarsson made it 3–0 in the 2nd period before Edmundson finished off the scoring in the 3rd period.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-vs-van/2016/03/25/2015021114 |title=Blues blank Canucks to clinch playoff berth |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 25, 2016}}

On March 26, the Blues became only the 11th team in NHL history to post four consecutive shutouts (a new Blues' franchise record), after Jake Allen beat the league-leading Washington Capitals, 4–0, turning aside 32 shots at Washington for his sixth shutout of the season. It's the first time of a team winning with four consecutive shutouts since the Phoenix Coyotes had five December 31, 2003 – January 9, 2004, to set the modern record.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/713906265806733313/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw |title=StLouisBlues are 11th in NHL history to post 4 straight shutouts and 4th to do so in expansion era (since 1967-68) |publisher=NHL Public Relations |date=March 26, 2016}} The Blues have not allowed a goal in 240:18, for the longest streak in their history.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-vs-wsh/2016/03/26/2015021123 |title=Blues blank Capitals for fourth straight shutout |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 26, 2016}}

On March 29, Brian Elliott's shutout streak ended at 193:12 with a goal by Mikhail Grigorenko at 18:12 in the first period at home.

The team's shutout streak ended at the same time at 258:29. Elliott is 10-0-1 in his last 12 starts, and leads the NHL with a 1.92 GAA and .935 SV%. The Blues again passed 100 points with a 46-22-9 record, and fighting for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference with the Dallas Stars after a 3–1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-stl/2016/03/29/2015021145 |title=Blues defeat Avalanche for fifth straight win |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 29, 2016}}

The Blues vs. Chicago Game 5 on April 21, set a Fox Sports Midwest all-time ratings record. It was the most-watched Blues game on that regional sports network in the team's 20 seasons. The double overtime thriller, lost by the Blues 4–3, earned a 15.0 rating with 183,000 households watching in the St. Louis market, according to Nielsen Media Research. It was the most-watched program of the day in St. Louis, as were the previous four games of the series.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=879918 |title=Game 5 Sets FSMW Ratings Record |publisher=NHL.com |date=April 22, 2016}}

Robby Fabbri scored his first goal of the playoffs and added an assist giving him four points overall in the series (1g, 3a). The game marked the 11th all-time overtime playoff game between the Blues and Hawks. The Blues hold a 7–4 record in those games and a 3-1 mark in multiple overtime games. The Blues recorded 46 shots against goaltender Corey Crawford – the sixth highest total in a playoff game in club history. Alexander Steen led the team with six, which tied for his second-highest total in a postseason contest.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=879894 |title=Game Notes - Blues 3, Blackhawks 4 (2OT) |publisher=NHL.com |date=April 22, 2016}}

The Blues vs. Chicago in Game 7 on April 25, shattered all previous ratings records for Fox Sports Midwest. It was the most-watched telecast in the history of that network with a 19.6 rating in the St. Louis DMA, averaging 239,000 households, according to Nielsen Media Research. Viewing peaked at a 25.3 rating/308,000 households/39 share at the end of the game.

Before April 25, the highest-rated event on FOX Sports Midwest was the St. Louis Cardinals' victory at Houston Astros on Sept. 28, 2011 – the final day of the regular season, on which the Cardinals' win and subsequent Atlanta Braves loss put the Cardinals in the postseason. That Cardinals' game earned an 18.0.

Blues-Blackhawks was the No. 1 program of the day in St. Louis. During the game, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., it beat the combined rating of St. Louis' ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates (17.9). All seven games of the series were the No. 1 program of the day in St. Louis.

Game 7 was the most-watched program in St. Louis since the Super Bowl on Feb. 7.

The previous high for a Blues game came just last week – a 15.0 for Game 5 against Chicago. FOX Sports Midwest is in its 20th season as the home of the Blues and 23rd with the Cardinals.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=880393 |title=Game 7 Shatters Ratings Record on FSMW |publisher=NHL.com |date=April 26, 2016}}

After two thrilling 4-3 games playoff series wins against the Blackhawks and Stars, but then a six-game loss in the Western Conference Finals to the Sharks, coach Ken Hitchcock, 64, signed a one-year contract extension on May 31, in what he said would be his last season coaching. He guided the St. Louis Blues to their first Western Conference Final appearance since 2001. Hitchcock has accumulated a 224-103-36 (.667) record in 363 games behind the bench in St. Louis. His coaching career has spanned 19 NHL seasons, 1,404 games and 757 wins, which ranks fourth all-time in NHL history. He's led his teams to 13 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning one championship with the Dallas Stars in 1999. All of the assistant coaches have been offered similar one-year contract extensions. Blues associate coach Brad Shaw, who has been with the club since 2006, has decided not to return and will instead pursue other opportunities.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=884513 |title=Hitchcock Returns for One Final Season |publisher=NHL.com |date=May 31, 2016}}

After associate coach Brad Shaw and assistant coach Kirk Muller decided to leave for other opportunities, Mike Yeo, 42 (b. July 31), was announced on June 13 to replace coach Ken Hitchcock after his last year (2016–17), starting in the 2017–18 season. Yeo joins the Blues as associate coach, while Rick Wilson will join the staff as an assistant coach. Ray Bennett (assistant coach), Jim Corsi (goalie coach) and Sean Ferrell (video coach) will also return. Yeo spent the majority of the last five seasons as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild, leading the club to a 173-132-44 record, including a 46-28-8 mark in 2014–15, which was the second-best mark in Wild history. Yeo also guided Minnesota to three post-season appearances, including back-to-back trips to the second round in 2014 and 2015.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=885871 |title=Blues Add Yeo, Wilson to Coaching Staff |publisher=NHL.com |date=June 13, 2016}}

{{2015–16 NHL Central Division standings|team=STL}}

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Legend:

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Legend:

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===Skaters===

Final stats

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Bold = led team

* Missed 49 games due to ankle fracture, Oct. 23-Feb. 10{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=868099 |title=Schwartz Activated from Injured Reserve |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=February 10, 2016}}

** Missed 9 games due to right knee injury Feb. 6 (Feb. 8-Feb. 27){{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=867616 |title=Pietrangelo Placed on Injured Reserve |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=February 8, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=871043 |title=Blues Activate Pietrangelo from IR |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=February 27, 2016}}

*** Missed 15 games due to upper-body injury Feb. 20 (Feb. 21-Mar. 28){{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=869806 |title=Steen Injured Saturday against Arizona |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=February 21, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=876017 |title=Steen's Return Gives Surging Blues a Boost |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=March 29, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=875858 |title=Steen Will Return to Lineup vs. Avalanche |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=March 28, 2016}}

**** Missed 54 final regular-season games, on IR due to right hamstring injury Dec. 5 (Dec. 6-Apr. 9).{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=791234 |title=Ott to Undergo Hamstring Surgery: Blues forward was injured in the first period Dec. 5 vs. Toronto |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=December 6, 2015}} He was diagnosed with colitis on April 6, will be re-evaluated in 14 days.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=877529 |title=Ott Diagnosed with Colitis |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=April 6, 2016}} He returned to play in Game 3 of the StL-Chi playoffs, April 17.{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=879415 |title=Ott Doesn't Miss a Beat in Game 3 Return |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=April 18, 2016}}

Final stats{{cite web|url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/stats.htm|title=Stats|publisher=St. Louis Blues|access-date=April 9, 2016}}

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blues. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.

^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Team only.

* Activated on Feb. 21, after missing 17 games (Jan. 9-Feb. 20){{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=869840 |title=Allen Activated from Injured Reserve |publisher=NHL.com |date=February 21, 2016}}

** Activated on Mar. 18, after missing 10 games (Feb. 23-Mar. 18){{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=874418 |title=Elliott Set to Return Against Canucks: Blues goaltender will return after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury |publisher=NHL.com |date=March 18, 2016}}

BOLD = led NHL

Final stats{{cite web|url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/stats.htm|title=Stats|publisher=St. Louis Blues|access-date=May 25, 2016}}

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The Blues has been involved in the following transactions:

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{{See also|List of St. Louis Blues draft picks}}

Below are the St. Louis Blues' selections at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, to be held on June 26–27, 2015 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

;Draft notes{{cite web|title=2015 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions|url=http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/2015.htm|publisher=Pro Sports Transactions|access-date=June 3, 2015}}

• The St. Louis Blues' first-round pick went to the Winnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on February 11, 2015, that sent Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Jason Kasdorf to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).{{cite web |url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=752869|title=SABRES ACQUIRE KANE, BOGOSIAN & KASDORF FROM WINNIPEG|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2015}} The condition – Winnipeg will receive the lowest of Buffalo's first-round picks in 2015 – was converted on April 27, 2015, when the Islanders were eliminated from the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, ensuring that the Blues' first-round pick would be lower. Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 28, 2014, that sent Ryan Miller, Steve Ott and conditional second and third-round picks in 2014 to St. Louis in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier, a conditional first-round pick in 2014 and this pick.{{cite web|title=Miller, Ott traded to Blues by Sabres for Halak, Stewart|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=706963&navid=nhl:topheads|publisher=National Hockey League|date=February 28, 2014|access-date=February 28, 2014}}
• The St. Louis Blues' third-round pick went the San Jose Sharks as compensation for Edmonton hiring Todd McLellan as their head coach on May 19, 2015.{{cite web|title=Oilers to hire Todd McLellan as head coach: reports|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/oilers-to-hire-todd-mclellan-as-head-coach-reports-1.3078407|date=May 18, 2015|access-date=June 18, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Trades completed during 2015 NHL Draft weekend|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=772519|date=June 27, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2015}} Edmonton previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 10, 2013, that sent Magnus Paajarvi, a second-round pick in 2014 and a fourth-round pick in 2015 to St. Louis in exchange for David Perron and this pick.{{cite web|title=INBOX: Oilers draft pick dilemma|url=http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=753648|date=February 16, 2015|access-date=March 11, 2015}}
• {{Note label|Note1|a|a}} The Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick went the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on July 10, 2013, that sent David Perron and a third-round pick in 2015 to Edmonton in exchange for Magnus Paajarvi, a second-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
• {{Note label|Note1|b|b}} The New Jersey Devils' fifth-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on March 22, 2013, that sent Matt D'Agostini and a seventh-round pick in 2015 to New Jersey in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).{{cite web|title=Devils acquire Blues' D'Agostini|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=661538|date=March 22, 2013|access-date=May 24, 2013}} The condition – If D'Agostini is not re-signed by New Jersey then St. Louis will receive a fifth-round pick in 2015 – was converted on July 10, 2013.{{cite web|title=Penguins sign D'Agostini to one-year contract|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677486|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}
• The St. Louis Blues' seventh-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on September 28, 2013, that sent Scott Timmins and a sixth-round pick in 2014 to New Jersey in exchange for Krys Barch and this pick.{{cite web|title=Devils, Panthers swap depth forwards, picks|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684584|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 30, 2013|date=September 28, 2013}} New Jersey previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 22, 2013, that sent a conditional fourth-round pick to St. Louis in exchange for Matt D'Agostini and this pick.

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{{2015–16 NHL season by team}}

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Category:St. Louis Blues seasons

St. Louis Blues season, 2015-16

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