In the world of hockey, the role of a head coach is crucial to the success of a team. They are the ones who lead, motivate, and strategize in order to guide their players to victory. The St. Louis Blues have seen their fair share of head coaches since the turn of the century, each with their own unique style and approach to the game.
Last week, we delved into the world of goaltenders as we ranked the 11 starting goalies of the St. Louis Blues since 2000. Today, we shift our focus to the men behind the bench as we rank the seven head coaches the Blues have had since the 1999-2000 season.
Without further ado, let us dive into the world of St. Louis Blues head coaches and explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.
One of the more recent head coaches for the Blues was Mike Yeo. Yeo initially joined the Blues as an assistant coach for the 2016-17 season, with the plan being that he would eventually take over as head coach once Ken Hitchcock retired. However, when the Blues hit a rough patch midway through the season, the decision was made to promote Yeo to head coach early. The move seemed to pay off as the Blues rallied, finishing the season with 99 points and making it to the second round of the playoffs.
The future seemed promising with Yeo at the helm, but the following season proved to be a disappointment as the Blues failed to make the playoffs by just one point. Despite making some key acquisitions in the off-season, including David Perron, Tyler Bozak, and Ryan O’Reilly, the team continued to underperform. Yeo was ultimately let go in November, leaving many to wonder what went wrong.
Yeo’s lackluster performance as head coach left many fans and analysts scratching their heads. Despite his success with the Minnesota Wild, Yeo’s coaching style failed to translate to success with the Blues. While other coaches on this list may have had worse regular-season standings, the expectation for the Blues was to win, not just to compete. Yeo’s inability to meet those expectations is what lands him at the bottom of this ranking.
It is worth noting, however, that Yeo still holds a respectable place in Blues history with 73 wins, ranking him tenth all-time in franchise history.
Moving on to another Blues head coach, we have Mike Kitchen, who took over the reins in 2004. Under Kitchen’s leadership, the Blues managed to finish second in the Central Division with 91 points, showing promise for the future. However, their playoff run was cut short as they were defeated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.
In the world of hockey, the head coach’s role is a prestigious one, filled with high expectations and pressure to deliver results. Each coach brings their own unique style and approach to the game, shaping the team in their image. While some achieve great success, others fall short of the mark. The St. Louis Blues have seen their fair share of head coaches over the years, each leaving their mark on the franchise in their own way.
