Iron Mike & The Blues: A St. Louis Story

Keenan’s departure left chaos in its wake — but also the raw materials for one of the most dominant teams in Blues history. Under Joel Quenneville, the franchise would rise to Presidents’ Trophy glory, yet still fall short of the ultimate prize. This finale reflects on the paradox of Keenan’s legacy: a reign that burned bridges but helped build a contender.

By late 1996, Keenan’s relationships with his star players and front office were beyond repair. The feud with Brett Hull had gone public. Locker room unrest was spilling into the press. And a high-stakes power struggle at the top forced ownership’s hand. This is the inside story of the day the Blues fired not just Keenan, but their team president too — ending the Iron Mike era in dramatic fashion.

In one jaw-dropping season, Keenan traded away fan-favorite captain Brendan Shanahan for a young Chris Pronger, then shocked the hockey world by landing Wayne Gretzky. It was all part of an all-in push for a Stanley Cup. But under the pressure of sky-high expectations, the Blues’ quest would end in one of the most heartbreaking Game 7 moments in franchise history.

The 1994–95 lockout-shortened season became a proving ground for Keenan’s iron-fisted approach. From stripping Brett Hull of his captaincy to importing loyal allies from past teams, Keenan wasted no time shaking the foundations of the Blues’ culture. This is the story of how a coach’s demand for instant change set the stage for both short-term sparks and long-term fractures.

In the summer of 1994, the St. Louis Blues pulled off the unthinkable — luring freshly crowned Stanley Cup champion Mike “Iron Mike” Keenan away from the New York Rangers. It was a move dripping with ambition, risk, and controversy. We explore the high-stakes recruitment, the contract chaos, and the vision that made Keenan both the savior and the storm the Blues thought they needed.

He was hockey’s most feared bench boss — fresh off a Stanley Cup in New York — and the St. Louis Blues lured him away in a move that sent shockwaves through the NHL. What followed was three seasons of blockbuster trades, superstar clashes, front-office mutinies, and one unforgettable chase for glory that ended in heartbreak. This is the untold saga of Mike “Iron Mike” Keenan’s turbulent reign in St. Louis — how it began in triumph, unraveled in chaos, and left behind a legacy the Blues are st...