Brett Hull recently recounted a hilarious moment involving former St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Keenan. Hull spoke candidly about opposing Keenan’s demanding coaching style and openly questioned him.
The Blues hired Keenan fresh off his Stanley Cup win with the New York Rangers. He had a reputation of being a polarizing coach and did not always receive glowing reviews from his players. One of his most vocal critics was Hull, the Blues’ top scorer and a player the team heavily relied on for success.
Upon arriving in St. Louis, Keenan emphasized physical fitness and expected the Blues players to take it seriously. Hull admitted that fitness was never a strength of his and said he seized an opportunity to prove a point.
During an episode of his Ice Guardians Podcast, Hull admitted that he didn’t get along with Keenan.
Hull recalled Kennan displaying a plaque that listed the most physically fit players on the team. After reviewing the names, the former Blues captain called over his head coach to share an observation.
“This is my favorite thing. You know, me and Mike [Keenan] didn’t get along so swimmingly. We’d be in the gym and there was a [expletive] plaque on the wall and I go, ‘Mike! Come here, come here,’” Hull said. “He’d look, he go, ‘What do you want?’ I go, ‘Come here it’s very important.’ So he comes down and there’s the plaque for the most fit guy in training camp, and I go, ‘Who the [expletive] are they?’
Brett Hull Shares Why He Was Against Mike Keenan Putting Emphasis on Fitness
Brett Hull also explained why he disagreed with Mike Keenan‘s heavy emphasis on fitness. He believed the Blues needed players who could perform on the ice and make a difference.
Hull said that elite fitness didn’t always translate to exceptional NHL performance.
“Obviously, none of this matters cause they can’t play hockey, but boy, can they run and lift,” Hull said during his Ice Guardians Podcast. “Hate for you to be able to throw a saucer pass over on a power play, but no, I couldn’t do that.”
Ex-Blues Enforcer Kelly Chase Shares Hilarious Story of Hull Being Upset About Fitness Test
Kelly Chase also chimed in and shared a hilarious story involving Hull early on in his tenure with St. Louis.
Chase recalled a fitness test in which Hall was asked to jump to measure how high he could raise his arms. The test frustrated Hull, who pointed out his on-ice production the previous season instead.
“[This kid] is dealing with [Hull] and he just wants us to work and get it over with and Hully goes, ‘What do you want me to do?’” Chase said during Ice Guardians Podcast. “[The kid] goes, ‘I want you to see how high you can raise your arms in the air. And [Hull] goes, ‘How high I can raise my arms? This [expletive] high. 86 times last year. I’m not doing that,’ and walks out of the room.”
Brett Hull Shares Hilarious Story of Questioning Mike Keenan
