In a showdown of hockey titans, the St. Louis Blues are gearing up to face off against their former head coach, Craig Berube, as he leads the Toronto Maple Leafs into battle. Blues captain Brayden Schenn is no stranger to Berube’s coaching style, having played under him during his entire tenure in St. Louis, culminating in a Stanley Cup victory in 2019. Schenn also has experience playing under current Maple Leafs assistants Marc Savard and Mike Van Ryn.
“You kind of know with Chief behind the bench and Savard and Van Ryn. I’ve been under their wing for many years, so you know what style of game they’re going to play,” Schenn remarked on TSN’s First Take. “North-south, direct, hard, and bringing a competitive game to the rink. And then when you add the skill that they have with the guys up front and the guys they added over the summer, you’re going to get a competitive game.”
After a playoff absence in the 2022-23 season and a tough start last season, Berube was let go by the Blues on December 12, 2023, with Drew Bannister stepping in as his replacement. Schenn took the reins as team captain last season and has notched one goal and one assist in the first seven games of the new season. The Blues currently hold a record of 4-3-0, placing them fifth in the Central Division.
During the offseason, the Blues made waves by signing defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to two-year offer sheets that went unmatched by the Edmonton Oilers. Broberg has started off strong with six points in seven games, while Holloway has posted two points in the same span.
Despite the parting of ways between the Blues and Berube, his influence still reverberates within the organization. “He was a great coach here for a long time,” Schenn reflected. “Definitely well respected in our locker room and in and around the city. Obviously, he’s getting a great chance with a historic organization in Toronto. It’s going to be a hard-fought game tomorrow night.”
As the Blues and Berube prepare to clash on the ice, the echoes of their past successes and struggles will surely add fuel to the fire in what promises to be a thrilling showdown between two hockey powerhouses.