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The St. Louis Blues are within the midst of a four-game dropping streak that has dropped their report right down to 13-14-1. The previous week’s information cycle has been jam-packed with surrounding the franchise with the present state of the group.
In this version of Blues’ 3 Up, 3 Down, I’ll focus on the teaching change, a ahead being positioned on waivers, the general dropping streak, and way more.
Plus One: Robert Thomas
Before moving into a number of the different information of the week for the Blues, I wished to offer Robert Thomas credit score for the way good of a season he’s having. He performs on the Blues’ high line towards different groups’ greatest traces and his manufacturing has been there all season lengthy. He has 27 factors in 28 video games, together with main the group with 10 objectives. His match alongside Jake Neighbours and Pavel Buchnevich has confirmed to be probably the greatest and most constant traces all season for the Blues.
Thomas’s extension seems to be prefer it’ll age properly because the NHL wage cap will increase over the subsequent few years. At simply $8.125 million per season, the Blues are getting a high quality top-line heart with scoring potential, playmaking expertise, and two-way prowess. It’s one of many few nice strikes by basic supervisor Doug Armstrong over the previous few years.
Minus One: Head Coach Craig Berube Fired
The Blues made the powerful choice to fire head coach Craig Berube after their 6-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, Dec. 12. With that transfer, they’ve introduced in Drew Bannister because the interim head coach, and Armstrong says the search for a permanent head coach is underway and Bannister is a candidate. He has spent the previous three seasons as the top coach of the Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds. He’s led them to back-to-back playoff seasons with a report of 93-58-19. He additionally helped cause them to the Calder Cup Final in 2022 earlier than dropping to the Chicago Wolves in 5 video games.
Related: Blues Relieve Berube, Appoint Bannister Interim Coach
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Overall, the Berube period in St. Louis was undoubtedly profitable. He won a Stanley Cup in his first season with the membership and made the playoffs 3 times after that. His general report was 206-132-44 within the common season and 24-27 within the playoffs. It’s arduous accountable Berube for lots of the problems with the roster over the previous few seasons as these points ought to largely be blamed on choices made by Armstrong. He will land on his toes with one other NHL head teaching job, and that might not be a shock.
Plus Two: Kevin Hayes
For a participant who received off to a gradual begin, Kevin Hayes has saved his head down and labored arduous in his first season as a Blue. He’s been rewarded with loads of scoring probabilities and completely different alternatives within the lineup. He is as much as eight objectives in 28 video games and has a plus/minus of plus-2.
He’s additionally been actually good within the faceoff circle at 57.9 p.c, which leads the group. All of his 14 factors have come at even energy, which isn’t a shock with the Blues’ energy play struggles. Props to Hayes for sticking with it, and his first season with the Blues has been stable due to that.
Minus Two: Jakub Vrána Waived
Everybody ought to have seen this one coming, however the Blues formally waived Jakub Vrána after three completely different incidents of being wholesome scratched, and struggling to suit all season lengthy. The Blues traded for Vrána on the commerce deadline final season from the Red Wings and received it carried out with only a 2025 seventh-round choose, minor league ahead Dylan McLaughlin, and 50 p.c wage retained by Detroit.
He produced final season with 10 objectives in 20 video games, however the Blues have been additionally enjoying for nothing after being out of playoff rivalry for fairly a while. He didn’t play arduous sufficient or as much as the usual of Berube this season and that was clear from the beginning. He scored two objectives in 19 video games and didn’t play a two-way recreation general. This will not be the primary time that he’s fallen out of favor as the identical factor occurred in Detroit. One distinction is the well-known off-ice issues he had whereas in Detroit. After clearing waivers, he’ll report back to Springfield to see if he can determine his recreation out down within the AHL.
Plus Three: Brad Richards Brought in as Power Play Consultant
During his press convention to debate the termination of Berube, Armstrong introduced the membership’s hiring of former NHL standout Brad Richards as an influence play marketing consultant. The Blues have one of many worst energy performs within the league. At 8.4 p.c, the Blues rank thirty first within the league above solely the Washington Capitals. Nothing has labored when it comes to construction or personnel adjustments, and assistant coach Steve Ott appears to don’t have any reply for this lack of success.
Richards had loads of energy play success in his profession, scoring 95 objectives and 282 assists on the ability play all through his 15 seasons within the NHL. I feel it’s nice to get one other voice within the room for the ability play and an individual like Richards might be an important selection. It stays to be seen whether or not this works or not, however it’s price a strive.
Minus Three: Losing Streak Continues
As a results of the four-game dropping streak towards largely lesser opponents, the Blues moved on from Berube. In the dropping streak, they’ve losses to the Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, and Red Wings. They have been outscored 20-10 in these video games and the scores have been nearer than they need to have been in a few these video games. They’ve seemed unhealthy and didn’t reply sufficient to the criticism from above, so Berube is now out the door.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if the Blues can discover some wins beneath the steering of Bannister because the interim head coach. I feel it’s apparent that the blame lies extra with Armstrong and the gamers over what Berube has carried out. He’s a superb coach and didn’t deserve this, however that’s simply the way in which issues go within the NHL.
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