St. Louis Takes Cover In The Hull

The goals are coming in bunches again for Brett Hull. Looking around in the St. Louis Blues’ locker room, he says it’s easy to see why.

“Everybody keeps talking about the changed Brett Hull,” said Hull, who’s tied for the NHL lead with nine goals in eight games. “When you’ve got these new players around you and a new coach and a new style, everybody looks like they’re playing better.”

Under new general manager-coach Mike Keenan, the Blues are gearing up for a run at the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. The team has seven players and a coach with 20 Cup rings among them. Last season, the Blues had no rings.

The latest addition was free-agent right wing Glenn Anderson on Saturday.

“I don’t even care how old or how many cups he’s won, he’s a great player,” Hull said. “When he comes here, you will see that without a doubt he’ll be the most talented guy out there.”

Still, it all revolves around Hull.

In his seventh season with the Blues, Hull is enjoying a resurgence. He got the tying and go-ahead goals while recording his 22nd career hat trick in Saturday’s 7-4 victory over Dallas. He also got the game-winner in the Blues’ previous game, an overtime victory at Winnipeg.

Hull scored 86 goals in 1990-91, but tailed off - for him - to 54 and 57 the last two seasons while in mourning for traded center and best friend Adam Oates. At this rate, Hull could end up around 50 again despite the NHL’s 48-game strike-delayed season.