In a surprising move, the St. Louis Blues have parted ways with head coach Craig Berube, announcing Drew Bannister as his replacement. Bannister, previously coaching Springfield in the AHL, is set to make his debut behind the bench when the Blues face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
Berube's tenure, spanning six seasons, came to an end after the team's recent struggles, marked by a fourth consecutive loss to the Detroit Red Wings. With a current record of 13-14-1 and ranking 26th in the NHL for goals per game, the Blues felt the need for a change.
Despite the challenges, Blues forward Kevin Hayes emphasized the collective effort needed to overcome the team's slump. Berube, who took over in 2018 and led the Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019, concludes his tenure with a record of 206-131-44. Bannister, with a successful AHL coaching stint, brings fresh perspective to guide the Blues through this transition.
