"When the Blues begin training camp a week from today, the club will have a new leader.

David Backes has been named as the 20th captain in Blues' history. The captaincy had been vacant since former captain Eric Brewer was traded to Tampa Bay on Feb. 18.

Backes, 27, was selected by the Blues in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft. The former Minnesota State forward has spent five seasons with the club, totaling 102 goals and 218 points with a +20 plus-minus rating in 364 games.

Backes, originally a right winger who was converted to center, led the club in goals (31), points (62) and plus-minus (+32) in 2010-11. His 62 points set a career high and his 31 goals matched a career high, set in 2008-09. He also had 213 hits last season.

Last November, Backes signed a new five-year, $22.5 million contract that will pay him $4.5 million per season. The deal runs through the 2015-16 season and is the longest-term contract on the Blues' books."