50 Most Outstanding Players in St. Louis Blues History: 30-21

21. Jeff Brown

Defenseman, 1989-94; 329 games, 80 goals, 214 assists, minus-19 rating, 218 PIM

With all due respect to Hall-of-Famer Al MacInnis and current playmaker Kevin Shattenkirk, Jeff Brown is the most productive scoring defenseman that the Blues have ever had. His ability to reach the same skill level on the defensive side (he posted a career minus-51 rating, albeit mostly during a prosperous offensive era) and lack of longevity in St. Louis were the only reasons that he didn’t achieve the same perennial household name status that players like MacInnis and Chris Pronger still enjoy today.

During his time with the Blues, Brown achieved levels of offensive success that are nearly unheard of for a defenseman today. On a 1992-93 Blues team that scored prolifically, Brown had more than a point per game, collecting 78 points (25 goals and 53 assists) in 71 games. He nearly achieved the same feat in ’93-’94, collecting 60 points (13 goals and 47 assists) in 63 games before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks as part of a package in a deadline deal for Craig Janney.

Brown was also a prolific playoff performer while with the Blues, notching 38 points (10 goals and 28 assists) in 42 postseason games.

Next: Most Outstanding Players in Blues History: 20-11

Brown, who ranks fifth all-time among Blues players in assists per game with 0.65, burned out to an extent after leaving St. Louis and doesn’t have the same type of legacy that many other players from his era maintain these days. He’s certainly one of the top five defensemen in Blues history, though, and he deserves to be honored as such.