Perron ties Plager in games played

David Perron laced up his skates and ran through his pregame routine on Sunday night in Anaheim just like he would for any other hockey game.
Except it wasn't just any other hockey game.
Perron - who was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2007 and has played in three stints with the club since - wore the Blue Note for the 616th time in the regular season.
That number is significant not only because it put Perron in the Top 10 in games played in franchise history, but also because of who he will share the milestone with - the late, great Bobby Plager.

"I mean, I'm speechless," Perron told stlouisblues.com about matching one of the most beloved Blues of all time in games played. "From the moment I came to St. Louis, Bobby was one of the first people that shook my hand and welcomed me to the city. He was always there for me to joke around with, keep my spirits up, basically anything I ever needed."
Perron has eclipsed some notable names recently on his way to the Top 10 - Red Berenson (519), Keith Tkachuk (543), Chris Pronger (598) and Al MacInnis (613) are all now in his rearview mirror.
Last Thursday in San Jose, Perron also moved past Bobby's brother, Barclay Plager (614), for sole possession of 11th on the all-time list.
"This is extremely special," Perron said. "I don't know what to say. I'm extremely lucky to be having the chance to do this."

When Perron was drafted by the Blues in the first round (No. 26 overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft, he came to St. Louis not knowing much about the franchise. But he quickly learned a lot about the larger-than-life Plager brothers.
"I was told they were extremely physical players, team players that would be willing to do anything to put the team first and put the franchise in a better spot than it was the day before," Perron recalled. "I have so many memories of Bobby just walking around the room, always stopping to look in the gym but never actually walking in. He'd say 'I'll never enter a gym in my life.' There were always jokes like that. But then I saw the videos, the way the Plagers played physical, how they loved the game, and heard the stories from people who played with them. Everyone had so much respect for Bobby. I mean, it's unbelievable."
Perron said he's felt a connection to Bobby and his family since he first joined the team as a 19-year-old prospect more than 14 years ago. Bobby would often bring his grandson, Jacob Briggs, to watch the team practice every day, and Perron would play ball hockey with Jacob in the team's locker room.

After Bobby passed away in March, Perron learned he shared his birthday with Jacob, so he invited him to a round of golf to help him cope with the recent loss of his grandfather. Then, in October, Perron joined Jacob and his dad, Dave Briggs, in a foursome at the annual Blues for Kids Golf Classic. The group used Bobby's lucky ball marker and won the tournament with a score of 58, which was Bobby's favorite number because it combined his No. 5 with Barclay's No. 8. Those numbers hang side-by-side in the rafters at Enterprise Center.
"That day was unbelievable," Perron said of the Blues for Kids Golf Classic. "We all were making great shots all day, they were coming out of nowhere. We all had clutch swings and clutch performances that basically allowed us to shoot that score. As it was unfolding, we were like 'Really? Is this really going to happen?' What's funny is we had an easy putt to score 57 but we all missed it."

Perron and the Blues aren't missing the mark very much this season. The team is off to a 7-1-1 start through its first nine games.
Somewhere, Bobby is probably watching and loving every minute of all of it.
"We'd like to send a big congratulations to David, both for passing my uncle Barclay and for tying my dad with 616 games played with the Blues," Melissa Plager-Briggs, Bobby's daughter, said before Sunday's game. "My dad always appreciated how proud David was to be wearing the Blue Note and how he came to care about the team's history and its alumni. We're looking forward to watching David play tonight and the many games to come."
Perron reaching Bobby's milestone is quite fitting. You'd have a hard time finding two people who have loved wearing the Blue Note more.
"I never thought it would ever be possible for me to even get close to Bobby in games played," Perron said. "When I started playing hockey, it wasn't something I really looked at. You just try to keep your head down and keep working until you get to the next milestone.
"But this one? Now this one is special."