Barret Jackman was drafted 17th overall by the Blues in the 1999 NHL entry draft, back when it was a good idea to draft stay at home defensemen in the first round. Offense and puck moving was not yet the de facto expectation of first round defensemen, and Jackman excelled in his role as a blueliner under the tutelage of Chris Pronger. Jackman, as is often mentioned by Blues fans looking to troll others, won the Calder Trophy in 2003, the only Blue in history to win the award.
After the 2004-2005 lockout, the role of the defenseman in the NHL changed to that of someone with some sort of offensive awareness.