(October 19, 2023) – The St. Louis Blues announced tonight that Pavol Demitra, Mike Liut, and Keith Tkachuk have been voted as the Class of 2024 for the Blues Hall of Fame presented by First Community. The announcement was made in front of the Enterprise Center crowd during the first period of this evening’s game against the Arizona Coyotes. The team will officially induct the players into the team’s hall of fame on Friday, January 19, during a ceremonial dinner at the downtown Missouri Athletic Club. The inductees will then be honored prior to the game on Saturday, January 20, when the Blues host the Washington Capitals.
Liut is the all-time Blues franchise leader in regular-season wins by a goaltender with 151, and also owns the team regular-season records for career shots against, saves, minutes played, and games played by a goalie. Demitra and Tkachuk were teammates, frequent linemates, and close friends during three-plus seasons playing together with the Blues between 2001-04, combining for 440 regular season points during that span.
Pavol Demitra came to the Blues via trade from the Ottawa Senators on November 27, 1996. He went on to spend the next eight seasons in St. Louis, totaling 493 points (204 goals, 289 assists) in 494 regular-season games. A three-time 30-goal scorer as a Blue, Demitra represented the Blues at three All-Star games and captured the Lady Byng Trophy in 2000. The Dubnica, Czechoslovakia, native also helped the Blues capture the 2000 Presidents’ Trophy and led the team to seven postseason appearances. Demitra, who will be inducted posthumously, ranks 7th in Blues history in points, 8th in goals and assists, and 22nd in regular-season games played.
Keith Tkachuk first came to the Blues via trade from the Phoenix Coyotes on March 13, 2001. The Melrose, Massachusetts, native spent nine seasons overall in St. Louis, compiling 427 points (208 goals, 219 assists) in 543 regular-season games. Tkachuk recorded three consecutive 30-goal seasons from 2001-04 and is one of only four players in franchise history with over 400 points and 600 penalty minutes. A two-time All-Star as a Blue, Tkachuk ranks 12th in Blues history in points, 6th in goals, and 20th in game played.
Mike Liut was drafted by the Blues in the fourth round (56th overall) of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft. The Weston, Ontario, native spent his first six NHL seasons with the Blues posting a 151-133-52 record in 347 regular-season games. In his first season with the Blues, 1979-80, Liut led the NHL with 32 wins. The following year, he posted a career-best 33 wins, was named a first-team NHL All-Star, captured the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s most outstanding player, and finished second to Wayne Gretzky in the Hart Trophy voting.