Brett Hull

Early Life and Family

Brett Hull was born on August 9, 1964, in Belleville, Ontario, into a prominent hockey family. His father, Bobby Hull, was a legendary winger for the Chicago Black Hawks and Winnipeg Jets, known as 'the Golden Jet'. His mother, Joanne (McKay), was an American professional figure skater who taught him how to skate. Hull has three brothers, Bobby Jr., Blake, and Bart, and a younger sister, Michelle. His uncle Dennis Hull also had a lengthy NHL career. As a child, Hull lived in Illinois while his father played for Chicago, beginning organized hockey there at age four. The family moved back to Canada when Bobby signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in 1972. Hull played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Winnipeg South Monarchs. Following his parents' divorce in 1979, he moved to Vancouver with his mother and became estranged from his father for a period, though they later reconciled.

Junior and Collegiate Hockey

Hull's path to the NHL was unconventional, as he was initially overlooked due to concerns about his conditioning and commitment. After being passed over in the 1982 and 1983 NHL Entry Drafts, he played for the Penticton Knights of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. His breakout 1983-84 season, where he scored 105 goals and 188 points in 56 games, finally attracted NHL attention. The Calgary Flames selected him in the sixth round, 117th overall, in the 1984 draft. Hull then accepted a scholarship to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he played two dominant seasons. As a freshman in 1984-85, he scored 32 goals and won rookie of the year honours. He shattered records in his sophomore year, scoring 52 goals in 1985-86, breaking the school's single-season record. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and was named a WCHA First Team All-Star. The university retired his jersey number 29 in 2006.

NHL Career: Calgary and St. Louis Stardom

Hull turned professional after his sophomore season, joining the Calgary Flames during the 1986 playoffs. He spent most of the 1986-87 season with Calgary's AHL affiliate in Moncton, scoring 50 goals and winning the league's rookie of the year award. After a 52-game stint with the Flames in 1987-88, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on March 7, 1988. In St. Louis, Hull transformed into a superstar. After a 41-goal season in 1988-89, he dedicated himself to improving his conditioning and skating. Paired with elite playmaker Adam Oates, Hull began a historic scoring run. His 86 goals in 1990-91 rank third all-time for a single season. During that stretch, he twice scored 50 goals in his team's first 50 games, joining an exclusive club. He won the Hart Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award as league MVP in 1991, along with the Lady Byng Trophy in 1990. Named team captain in 1992, he later clashed with coach Mike Keenan, which led to Keenan's firing in 1996. Hull scored over 50 goals for five straight seasons and left St. Louis in 1998 as a free agent, with the Blues later retiring his number 16 in 2006.

Stanley Cup Championships with Dallas and Detroit

Seeking a championship, Hull signed with the Dallas Stars in 1998. Despite battling injuries, he scored 32 goals in the 1998-99 regular season. In the Stanley Cup Final against Buffalo, he scored the most famous goal of his career in triple overtime of Game 6, clinching the Cup for Dallas. The goal was controversial due to the NHL's crease rule at the time, but the league upheld it as legal. Hull scored his 600th career goal later that year. After a 39-goal season in 2000-01, the Stars did not pick up his contract option. Hull then signed with the Detroit Red Wings, joining a star-laden roster, and switched to number 17 out of respect for injured Red Wing Vladimir Konstantinov. He scored 30 goals in the 2001-02 regular season as Detroit won the Presidents' Trophy. In the playoffs, he led all scorers with 10 goals, helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup in five games over Carolina. It was his second championship. He scored his 700th career goal with Detroit in 2003 before playing one final season with the team in 2003-04.

Final Season and Retirement

Hull signed a two-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004, but the 2004-05 season was cancelled due to a lockout. When play resumed in 2005-06, he returned wearing his father's retired number 9, which the Coyotes franchise (formerly the Winnipeg Jets) un-retired at Bobby Hull's request. However, after appearing in just five games and recording one assist, Hull felt he could no longer perform at the standard he expected. On October 15, 2005, he announced his retirement from playing, ending a 19-season career with 741 goals and 1,391 points in 1,269 regular-season games.

International Career with Team USA

Possessing dual citizenship, Hull chose to represent the United States internationally after being passed over by Team Canada for the 1986 World Championships. He led the U.S. in scoring at that tournament and later said the faith shown by American officials boosted his confidence. He was a central figure for Team USA for over a decade. Hull tied for the team scoring lead at the 1991 Canada Cup, where the U.S. lost to Canada in the final. At the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, he was a tournament all-star and led all players with 11 points. He scored key goals in the semifinal and final, leading the United States to a championship victory over Canada. Hull also competed in two Winter Olympics. At the 1998 Games in Nagano, he scored two goals as the U.S. underperformed. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, he was part of a dominant top line with Mike Modano and John LeClair, helping the United States win a silver medal.

Post-Playing Career and Legacy

Following his retirement, Hull remained involved in hockey in executive and advisory roles. He served as a co-general manager for the Dallas Stars and later worked in a similar capacity for the St. Louis Blues. As of 2026, he holds the position of executive vice president with the St. Louis Blues. His legacy as one of the game's purest snipers is secure. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father Bobby, making them the first father-son duo to each score 600 NHL goals. He is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. His career totals of 741 goals and 1,391 points place him among the all-time elite. Hull and his father also form the only father-son pair to each reach 500 goals and 1,000 points in the NHL. His nickname, 'the Golden Brett', paid homage to his father's 'Golden Jet' moniker and his own prolific scoring touch.

Career Statistics and Highlights

Brett Hull's career statistics underscore his status as an elite scorer. In 1,269 regular-season NHL games, he recorded 741 goals and 650 assists for 1,391 points. His single-season high of 86 goals in 1990-91 remains a benchmark. Hull won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP (1991), the Lester B. Pearson Award (1991), and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1990). He was a First Team All-Star on three occasions and played in eight NHL All-Star Games. Beyond team championships, his individual milestones include becoming the fifth player to score 50 goals in 50 games, a feat he accomplished twice. He is sixth all-time in NHL goal scoring. His jersey number 16 is retired by the St. Louis Blues, and his number 29 is retired by the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

Questions about Brett Hull

How many goals did Brett Hull score in his NHL career?

Brett Hull scored 741 goals in his NHL career, placing him fifth on the league's all-time list. He achieved this total over 19 seasons with five different teams, with his most prolific scoring coming during his tenure with the St. Louis Blues. His best single season was 1990-91 when he scored 86 goals, the third-highest total for a season in NHL history. He also had five seasons where he scored 50 or more goals.

Why did Brett Hull play for the United States instead of Canada?

Brett Hull, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, chose to play for the United States internationally after being passed over by Team Canada for the 1986 World Championships. American national team coach Dave Peterson invited him to join the U.S. squad, and Hull accepted. He later stated that the faith shown in him by American officials gave him a significant confidence boost early in his career. He represented the U.S. for the remainder of his international career, winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and an Olympic silver medal in 2002.

What was controversial about Brett Hull's 1999 Stanley Cup-winning goal?

Hull's triple-overtime goal to win the 1999 Stanley Cup for Dallas was controversial because of the NHL's crease rule at the time, which stated a player could not score if any part of his body was in the goal crease. Replays showed Hull's skate was in the crease. The NHL ruled the goal legal, stating Hull had possession of the puck before entering the crease, a scenario addressed in a pre-playoff memo to officials. Many Buffalo Sabres fans and some players maintain it was an illegal goal. The NHL abolished the crease rule entirely before the next season.

Is Brett Hull in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Yes, Brett Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. This made him and his father, Bobby Hull, the first father-son combination to each be inducted after having both scored 600 NHL goals and 1,000 career points. Hull is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was further honoured by being named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players as part of the league's centennial celebrations.

What is Brett Hull's connection to the St. Louis Blues today?

As of 2026, Brett Hull holds an executive role with the St. Louis Blues, the team where he enjoyed his greatest individual success. He currently serves as an executive vice president for the franchise. The Blues retired his jersey number 16 in 2006, a permanent honour recognizing his impact on the team. He remains a beloved figure in St. Louis for his historic goal-scoring exploits during his decade with the club.

How are Brett Hull and his father Bobby Hull connected in NHL history?

Brett and Bobby Hull are the first father-son duo in NHL history to each score 500 goals and 1,000 points. Brett, nicknamed 'the Golden Brett', surpassed his father's total by finishing with 741. They are also the first father-son pair to both be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after achieving those scoring milestones. Their combined legacy represents one of the most formidable family scoring records in professional sports.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.