The St. Louis Blues may have had some success in the 2016 postseason, but their coaching staff will look very different going into next season.
After associate coach Brad Shaw informed the team he wouldn’t be back for 2016-17, it was Kirk Muller’s turn to inform his employer that he’d be seeking an opportunity elsewhere. Coincidentally (or not), both assistants made their decision after it was announced that Ken Hitchcock would be back next season.
It looks like both Shaw and Muller believed they were ready to become the next head coach of the Blues.
Muller took care of the forwards and the power play, which was excellent. The Blues were clicking at 26.3 percent in the playoffs (third in the league) and 21.5 percent in the regular season (fifth in the league).
Muller has been an assistant with the Blues for each of the last two seasons. He also spent five years as an assistant coach in Montreal and he has three years of experience as a head coach with the Carolina Hurricanes.
My 2 cents (1/4): for the #stlblues, the loss of Kirk Muller will have huge ramifications than simply losing an assistant coach. Muller ...
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 2, 2016
(2/4) was extremely well-liked by the players & was instrumental in the development of Robby Fabbri. He was a great teacher ... #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 2, 2016
(3/4) ... and simply replacing him will not be easy. Here was a guy I believe was expected to be the next head coach of the #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 2, 2016
(4/4) And now he's leaving with no guarantee of another job. #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 2, 2016
It should be an interesting summer in St. Louis. Not only will they have to fill two voids behind the bench, they’ll also have to work on locking up David Backes and Troy Brouwer. Both players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1st.