Blues’ Robert Thomas: Playing against Brayden Schenn will be ‘an emotional night’
When Brayden Schenn skated off the ice following a three-assist performance, he likely knew it was his last chance to skate alongside his St. Louis Blues teammates.
Schenn was one of the few remaining players from the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup championship team. Named captain in 2022, Schenn’s play has definitely deteriorated in recent years, which wasn’t aided by the team’s fall down the standings. The 34-year-old has 12 goals and 25 points this year, putting him on pace for a full-season rate of 34. That’s a far cry from the 50 points he registered a year ago, especially for someone who hasn’t missed a game since 2022.
Still, Schenn will forever be remembered as one of St. Louis’ top players during the team’s rise to prominence. He registered at least 50 points six times during his tenure in Missouri, including a personal best of 28 goals and 70 points in 2017-18.
On Friday, Schenn was traded by St. Louis to the New York Islanders. It was one of the most notable deals on deadline day, with the Islanders paying a hefty fee to bring him in as a middle-six threat. He didn’t register a point in his debut with the club on Saturday. But he’ll have a chance to get the crowd going at the Enterprise Center on Tuesday when he returns to St. Louis for the first time in enemy colors.
Schenn’s long-time teammate, Robert Thomas, dropped by The Sheet with Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski this week to talk about the opportunity of playing against Schenn:
Jeff Marek: “You’re going to play against the New York Islanders (on Tuesday). I know this is a reality that all players face. Is that one going to be different? Is that one going to be different for the St. Louis Blues, facing off against Brayden Schenn, playing against the Islanders later on this week?
Robert Thomas: “Yeah, it’s going to be a tough night. Obviously, someone who was just so loved in St. Louis, a huge part of winning the first (Stanley) Cup ever in St. Louis, and he was a great leader, great captain. St. Louis, they loved him, and they’re going to show up and really celebrate him and show their appreciation for how much he did for the city and the team. Yeah, it’s definitely going to be an emotional night.”
You can watch the full episode below: