Blues to honor Hull, 'dream team'

ST. LOUIS -- Brett Hull won Stanley Cups with the Stars and Red Wings. No doubt that helps lessen the disappointment that his biggest seasons with the St. Louis Blues lacked similar happy endings.

The Blues are honoring Hull for his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, along with his "dream team" that features Adam Oates, Wayne Gretzky, Brendan Shanahan, Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger.

Hull became a star after St. Louis acquired him from the Calgary Flames in 1987. He scored 72, 86 and 70 goals in a three-season span starting in 1989-1990 and was just as entertaining and colorful after games.

"We had the Babe Ruth of hockey," Shanahan said. "Every time Babe hit, he hit a home run. Every time Brett shot it, he scored a goal."

Those memories trump Hull's sour ending in St. Louis in 1998. He'll be honored in a pre-game ceremony before Tuesday's game against the Flames, and the Blues also plan to add a Hull statue outside the Scottrade Center.

The team retired Hull's No. 16 jersey in 2006. He holds franchise records for goals (527), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (70), power-play goals (195) and shots on goal (3,367).