RIP Bobby. Finally reunited with Barclay and Bill.
From The Athletic:
Bobby Plager, an original member of the St. Louis Blues who spent decades with the organization, died Wednesday in a car accident. He was 78.
A bruising defenseman known for delivering devastating hip checks, Plager was traded to the expansion Blues from the New York Rangers in 1967, St. Louis’ inaugural year in the NHL. He went on to play with his brothers, Barclay and Bill, in St. Louis.
"Our hearts are broken after learning of the passing of Bobby Plager," the Blues said in a statement.
After retiring in 1978, he joined the Blues front office, and over the past 40-plus years, had held numerous roles within the organization.
“I was the vice president, assistant general manager, coach, assistant coach, director of player development, player personnel,” Plager told The Athletic in 2019, shortly before the club won its first Stanley Cup. “I wish I would’ve kept all my cards that they printed up. They kept giving me titles all the time and no raises. But I did the same thing all the time; I never changed. I never had a day off, and I enjoyed it.”
Plager recorded 141 points and 762 penalty minutes in 615 regular-season games with the Blues, who retired his No. 5 in 2017.
What Plager meant to the organization
Jeremy Rutherford, senior Blues writer: One word: Everything. He was the "True Blue" and part of the reason why is that he wanted nothing to do with being singled out. He always told me that the crest on the front of the jersey is to never touch the ground. You respect the Blue Note , and you play for that, not the name on the back. There was no greater joy than watching him, after a half-century of waiting, finally hoist the Stanley Cup.
What will he be remembered for?
Rutherford: Mr. Plager, whose brothers Barclay and Bill also played for the Blues, may not have been the best hockey player in his family. But he was always tied to history, assisting on the first goal in franchise history and taking the first penalty. He was known for his hip check, but it was his reality check that made him who he was: He was always appreciative of the life he was able to live and he never took it for granted.
He's going to be missed.
