Certain seasons in St. Louis Blues’ history seem almost impossible when viewed through the lens of the present. Players come and go, rosters change, and the passage of time has a way of making even impressive accomplishments feel like distant memories. But every once in a while, a player puts together a season so unexpected that it remains one of the most fascinating seasons in franchise history.
Brad Boyes’ 2007-08 season is one of those seasons.
A New Face in St. Louis
When the Blues acquired Boyes from the Boston Bruins in February 2007, there was certainly reason to believe he could become a useful offensive player. He had scored 26 goals for Boston during his rookie season in 2006-07, establishing himself as a legitimate NHL scoring threat. But nothing about his résumé suggested that he was about to become one of the most prolific goal scorers in the entire NHL.
At the time of the trade, Boyes was having a sophomore slump. He had scored just 13 goals with the Bruins and only four after he joined the Blues. There was still optimism, however. Perhaps a full training camp in the Blues’ system would help the Ontario native return to his rookie form.
When the 2007-08 season ended, Boyes had not returned to that form. He exceeded it.
In his first full season wearing the Blue Note, Boyes scored 43 goals. That number still looks strange attached to his name. It was not merely a career year. It was an extraordinary offensive explosion that placed him among the league’s elite goal scorers for one remarkable season. Only Alex Ovechkin, Illya Kovalchuk, Jarome Iginla, and Evgeni Malkin scored more goals than Boyes.
Boyes played all 82 games for the Blues in 2007-08 and finished with 43 goals and 22 assists for 65 points. For a team that finished 33-36-13 and missed the playoffs, Boyes’ scoring provided one of the few genuinely spectacular individual storylines of the season.
Perhaps the strangest part of all was that nobody really saw it coming.
A New Beginning in St. Louis
Boyes came to St. Louis as part of a trade that sent defenseman Dennis Wideman to Boston. At the time, the move made sense for an organization trying to reshape its roster.
From the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Boyes looked like a different player. He quickly became one of the Blues’ most dangerous offensive weapons, and as the goals continued to pile up, his confidence appeared to grow with them.
The Blues were not a powerhouse. They were not dominating opponents or rolling through the Western Conference. In fact, St. Louis finished near the bottom of the conference standings. That makes Boyes’ production even more remarkable.
That is not to say the Blues were not playing competitive hockey. They remained in the playoff picture before tailing off near the end of the season. Other players were making an impact as well. Keith Tkachuk scored 27 goals. Manny Legace was an All-Star between the pipes. Erik Johnson was having a strong rookie season.
However, Boyes managed to stand out from the rest. No 60-goal superstar was drawing all of the defensive attention away from him. Except Boyes, Tkachuk, and Paul Kariya, no one else recorded 50-plus points. The next closest was Lee Stempniak with 38. Boyes found a way to score despite limited playmakers.
The 40-Goal Mark
Reaching 40 goals in the NHL is an accomplishment under any circumstances. Doing it for a team that finished under .500 makes it even more unusual.
His 43 goals represented a massive jump from his previous career high of 26. Boyes increased his goal total by more than 65 percent from the previous season.
St. Louis Blues right wing Brad Boyes scores against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Patrick Lalime as Blackhawks defenseman James Wisniewski defends (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)
The power play became an important part of his success, as did his ability to find open ice and finish opportunities around the net. Boyes possessed a good release and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. During that season, those qualities seemed to manifest themselves on virtually every shift.
What Happened Afterward?
Boyes followed his spectacular 2007-08 season with 33 goals in 2008-09. It was a definite decline from 43, but he was still a productive player. Furthermore, the Blues reached the playoffs for the first time in the post-lockout era.
However, Boyes scored just 14 goals in 2009-10. Suddenly, the player who had looked like one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers just two years earlier was no longer producing at anything close to the same level.
Boyes’ time in St. Louis ended the following season when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. He remained a useful NHL player and continued his career with several organizations. However, the 43-goal season remained the peak of his offensive career. After leaving the Blues, he only scored 20 goals once. This makes his 2007-08 season feel almost like a hockey version of lightning in a bottle.
A Season Worth Remembering
It is easy to overlook Boyes when discussing memorable Blues scorers. The franchise has had far more decorated offensive stars. Brett Hull’s goal-scoring dominance obviously occupies a different universe. Pavol Demitra, Tkachuk, Pierre Turgeon, Doug Gilmour, and Vladimir Tarasenko all have stronger claims to being remembered as defining offensive players for the Blues.
That should not diminish what Boyes accomplished. In 2007-08, he scored more goals than some of the league’s best players, all while being on a team that missed the playoffs by a considerable margin.
Perhaps that is the appeal of his 43-goal season. It was unexpected. It was spectacular. It happened on a team that was not very good, and it was never quite replicated.
For 82 games, though, Boyes was one of the most dangerous finishers in the NHL.
Free Newsletter
Get St Louis Blues coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes – free.