Hull, who returned to the Blues as an executive vice president in 2013, will play for a star-studded alumni team in an appetizer to the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Blues and Blackhawks at Busch Stadium on Monday (1 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV).
Hull, who holds Blues records for goals (527), game-winning goals (70) and power-play goals (195), was a singular star at his peak, scoring at least 70 goals three straight seasons (1989-92). In 1990-91, he scored 86 goals, the most by a right wing in NHL history.
But the 52-year-old said he can't see himself playing in future alumni games.
"You've got to retire at some time," Hull said Friday after the alumni practiced at Scottrade Center.
Blues icon Bernie Federko, also playing in the game, heard Hull talk about how special it will be to have the Busch Stadium experience as his final hockey-playing memory and smiled.
"That's what it is all about," Federko said. "That's spectacular, special."
Everything about this alumni get-together seems special for the Blues. Practice was short and casual, to say the least, but there was no shortage of laughs and cutting one-liners.
"The safest place in the rink is on the bench because you can make fun of everybody that is on the ice, and then they come off and the roles get reversed," said Keith Tkachuk, a forward who had two tours with St. Louis (2000-06 and 2007-10) and calls the city home.
"The only thing that changes is the bodies. Otherwise you go back to the way you were 10, 15, however many years ago it was. The thing about hockey guys is, they are pretty good guys, and everybody likes to have fun and nobody is safe in [the dressing room]."
Hull said many of his alumni teammates may have lost a step in their skating but not in their mental game.
"Actually, the tongues might have gotten sharper," he said with a laugh.
But this alumni game is about more than laughs for the Blues. They know this weekend is an opportunity to give the fans a memory that will last a long time.
"We were talking about that today, about how important it is for the community, for the way people around here have taken to this team," said former forward Kelly Chase, a member of the Blues Alumni board of directors. "To me it is such an honor to be asked to play in it, but I'm so happy for the people of St. Louis that can actually come and watch it.
"It's emotional for me, because more than anything I'm an emotional guy to begin with. I've been here 28 years, and to be a part of this now and to see what has gone on here is just awesome. To see all the guys back is great, but to know what it means to the people of St. Louis is awesome."
