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| Bernie Federko was the first super star of the St. Louis Blues, playing there much of the 1980s. Source: https://www.athletepromotions.com/ speaker/bernie-federko/ (May be subject to copyright) |
He holds several team and records but was largely unheralded by virtue of playing in anonymity in St. Louis. In fact, Wikipedia reveals he was voted the most overlooked talent in 1986.
Yet, he was a prolific playmaker with four 100-point seasons, more than 1,100 career points, at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons, and 1,000 games played.
For his efforts, Bernie Federko was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was in my thoughts when St. Louis won their first ever Stanley Cup two years ago.
Prelude to success
Bernie Federko was taken seventh overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft after a stellar three-year career with the Saskatoon Blades of the then Western Canada Hockey League. He had 50 points in his first season then exploded for 39 goals and 68 assists for 107 points in his second season and an incredible 187 points in his third season with 115 assists and 72 goals. He added another 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in the playoffs that season. He left Saskatoon holding the team record for assists. In his final year he led the league in assists and points in the regular season and playoffs. He was also named league most valuable player and a league all-star.
Bernie Federko was taken seventh overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft after a stellar three-year career with the Saskatoon Blades of the then Western Canada Hockey League. He had 50 points in his first season then exploded for 39 goals and 68 assists for 107 points in his second season and an incredible 187 points in his third season with 115 assists and 72 goals. He added another 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in the playoffs that season. He left Saskatoon holding the team record for assists. In his final year he led the league in assists and points in the regular season and playoffs. He was also named league most valuable player and a league all-star.
He did not join the St. Louis Blues right out of junior, but instead joined their Central Hockey League affiliate the Kansas City Blues for the 1976-1977. He would go on to be a league all-star and rookie of the year with 30 goals and 39 assists for 69 points.
After that he was St. Louis bound.
Federko got progressively better with the Blues as the1970s came to an end, with 23 points in his rookie season in 1976-1977 and 41 points in 1977-1978. Then he hit his stride with 95 points in 1978-1979 and 94 points in 1979-1980.
He was poised to break out and become an elite scorer at the dawn of the decade.
Decade of excellence
The remainder of Bernie Federko’s career spanned the 1980s, with his retirement at the end of the 1989-1990 season.
The remainder of Bernie Federko’s career spanned the 1980s, with his retirement at the end of the 1989-1990 season.
He started the decade with his first 100-plus point season in 1980-1981. It was obvious he was a playmaker, because he recorded 31 goals and 73 assists for 104 points.
The 1981-1982 season saw Federko score 30 goals and add 62 assists for 92 points, following that up with a similar season in 1982-1983 with 24 goals and 60 assists for 84 points.
His career peaked over the next three years, scoring more than 100 points in each season. In 1983-1984 he had a career high 107 points and a career high 41 goals, the only time in his career he hit the 40-goal mark. He added 66 assists that season. In 1984-1985 he had a career high 73 assists to go with 30 goals for 103 points. Then, in 1985-1986, he scored 34 goals and 68 assists for 102 points.
He would not hit the 100-point mark again, but he continued to perform at a high level with at least 20 goals and 45 assists in his final three seasons in St. Louis. In 1986-1987, 20 goals and 52 assists for 72 points, followed by 20 goals and 69 assists for 89 points in 1987-1988.
At the outset of the 19889-1989 season, Federko was named captain of the Blues after the retirement of Brian Sutter. That season, which would be his last in St. Louis, he recorded 22 goals and 45 assists for 67 points.
At the end of the season he and Tony McKegney were shipped to Detroit for Adam Oates and Paul McLean. He had 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points and retired at the end of the year.
He finished his career with exactly 1,000 games played recording 1,130 points on 369 goals and 761 assists.
Parting thoughts
Bernie Federko was the St. Louis Blues’ first super star. He finished his career with several club records that still stand. He holds St. Louis records for career points with 1,073; career assists with 721; career games played with 927; career playoff assists with 66; and shares the team record for assists in one game with five.
Bernie Federko was the St. Louis Blues’ first super star. He finished his career with several club records that still stand. He holds St. Louis records for career points with 1,073; career assists with 721; career games played with 927; career playoff assists with 66; and shares the team record for assists in one game with five.
He was also the first NHL player to record at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons.
The Blues retired his number 24 a year after he retired and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He was the first true St. Louis Blue Hall of Famer, having spent virtually all his time as a Blue.
He never won an NHL trophy nor was named to an all-star team, but his credentials speak for themselves.
The numbers he put up made Bernie Federko the Blues’ first super star.
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