The phrase “like father, like son” doesn’t get much more literal than this for St. Louis Blues fans.
On Thursday night—February 26, 2026—Jack Finley stepped onto the ice at Enterprise Center for his debut with the Blues… wearing No. 37, the exact same number his dad, Jeff Finley, wore during his time with the team from 1999 to 2004.
Man, what a full-circle moment.
Jack, the 23-year-old, 6-foot-6, 227-pound forward (and St. Louis native, born right here), grew up idolizing the Blues. “I grew up a big Blues fan,” he said recently. “It was a big part of my family, my childhood.” To end up back home, pulling on his dad’s old number, with his father in the stands watching? That’s the kind of story that gives you chills.
The road here wasn’t a straight line. Jack was originally a second-round pick (No. 57 overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020. He made his NHL debut with them back on January 14, 2025, against Boston. This season, he’d played 22 games for Tampa (two goals, three points, some physical edge with 21 PIM), but after being placed on waivers February 6, the Blues swooped in and claimed him the next day. Just like that, he was home.
He switched from No. 62 in Tampa to No. 37 here—because why not honor the family legacy? His dad Jeff was in the building for the game against the Seattle Kraken, along with Jack’s sister flying in from Las Vegas. Imagine the emotions in that family section.
It’s one of those feel-good hockey stories that reminds you why we love the game: bloodlines, hometown pride, second chances, and a little bit of destiny all rolled into one. No. 37 is back on the ice in St. Louis, and this time it’s carrying on a tradition.
Welcome home, Jack.
