Blues to retire Pronger's number next season
Beginning in 2020-21, no St. Louis Blues player will ever wear No. 44 again, as the club will retire Chris Pronger's jersey at a date to be determined once next season's schedule is released.
Pronger will become the eighth player in Blues history to have his number retired, joining Al MacInnis (No. 2), Bob Gassoff (3), Bob Plager (5), Barclay Plager (8), Brian Sutter (11), Brett Hull (16), and Bernie Federko (24).
The imposing former defenseman played nine of his 18 seasons with the Blues, suiting up for St. Louis between 1995-96 and 2003-04.
He won the Hart and Norris trophies as a member of the club in 2000 and ranks 26th all time in points among NHL blue-liners with 698 in 1,167 games.
Pronger racked up 356 of those points in 598 contests with St. Louis while averaging a staggering 29:03 in ice time.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
HEADLINES
- Canadiens win 8th straight, hit 100-point mark for 1st time in 9 years
- Schaefer breaks NHL record for points by 18-year-old defenseman
- Sabres clinch playoff berth to end NHL-record 14-year drought
- Panthers miss playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups
- Crosby climbs all-time scoring list as Malkin notches 1,400th point