Blues fire Craig Berube, name Drew Bannister (upd: no longer interim) head coach

[caley]

My favourite Berube anecdote from Jeremy Roenick's book 'JR'

[after Roenick had sucker-punched Berube] That encounter came in 1990, and for the next few years Berube was always lookin for his chance to make me pay.

Every time we played Philadelphia, Berube was always trying to get on the ice against me. It didn't happen very often, because I was usually playing against Philadelphia's top players and he was a fourth-liner...He chased me for years, but I was always able to elude him. As time marched on and Berube played for other teams, I wondered whether he had forgotten. Could he carry a grudge for a decade? I received my answer in 2003, when Berube was a player/coach for the Philadelphia Phantoms while I was playing for the Flyers.

He came into the Flyers' dressing room, and I said, "Hey, what's up, Chief?"

He responded by hammering me in the f--ing mouth with a vicious punch. He knocked me right on my ass.

My teammates were shocked that the entire room went quiet. Before anyone could even react, Berube had reached down, pulled me up and said, "Now we are even."

 

[jetsforever]

Well he got the Cup at least

 

[TheNumber4]

One former oiler replaces another

I was wondering why that name sounded familiar.
Man those decade of darkness Oilers sure know how to get those hockey jobs. Quite a bit of Oil alumni around the league now. Luke Richardson, Guerin, Weight, Staois, Grier, probably forgetting some.

 

[yukoner88]

there's a name I havent heard in 25 years

 

[ItWasJustified]

It's hard to get blood out of a stone.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Not re-signing Pietrangelo seemed like a very obvious mistake at the time. And everything has spiraled since.

Was this completely a Doug Armstrong thing in not giving him the protection he wanted, or does STL ownership not like handing control to players? Just seemed like an obvious guy you'd make concessions for & they weren't willing to budge, very strange.

 

[Ducer]

Treliving just put him on speed dial.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I remember Bannister from NHL 2000. I'd always do a fantasy draft and when I need 1, or 2 players left I'd get him as he was the best RHD left I believe.

Anyways, can't fire a whole team, so you fire the coach

 

[Miro4Norris]

Kyle Dubas it's time to wake up

 

[John Mandalorian]

Kyrou is 25 years old and we know he is capable of much more. If someone wants to pay a premium for him I consider it but I would not actively shop him.

So you want someone to pay for "capable of much more" and not what he currently is?

 

[Leafs87]

Leafs should at least have a conversation with him. Seems like a Treliving type coach too

 

[John Mandalorian]

Interim Coach Drew Bannister
View attachment 782588

Sadly unrelated to
Floyd & Brian
View attachment 782589
View attachment 782591

No Roger Bannister, perhaps the greatest of all Bannisters?

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Stanley Cup victory incoming…

Nah, that team was legit good but just had a bad start. This team legit sucks ass.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I’m a little surprised he got the axe this early. He’s a good coach if you have a good roster. But we don’t, and of course Armstrong will continue to skate by while other people take the fall for his shitty roster construction.

 

[ijuka]

Weird hiring, since if I'm being honest, Blues have done just about as well as I have expected them to. That team simply isn't all that good. The coach is being made the scapegoat for the management's failures.

 

[GMR]

Detroit Lions coach Wayne Fontes used to say that there are only two kinds of coaches. Those that are fired and those that will soon be fired.

 

[John Price]

wow

 

[Jee]

Man, y'all are obsessed.

Literally the first time I ever type the word "Bennington" on HF. You might want to revise your definition of obsession.

 

[Seachd]

I remember when Drew Bannister got traded for Bobby Dollas right before an Oilers/Ducks game and they just switched dressing rooms.

 

[NYI365]

If Lou was smart he'd fire Lane Lambert today and upgrade to Berube immediately

 

[John Mandalorian]

If Lou was smart he'd fire Lane Lambert today and upgrade to Berube immediately

How does Lou say “let’s make one thing clear - I’m the chief, OK!?” without actually saying it?

 

[BLNY]

I’m sure Berube won’t be out of work long. No doubt he’ll have a good headhunter helping him find his next role

That would depend on his willingness to forego the remainder of his contract with the Blues. His contract pays him at least $3 million a year through 2024/25. Taking a beat and getting paid for it isn't a bad thing. He can wait for the right opportunity instead of the next one.

 

[JKG33]

It feels like everything they've done since winning the cup has been a stupid move. Letting Pietrangelo go just to sign Krug to a worse contract. Losing your other leader in ROR. Hitching the wagon to two p***yes in Thomas and Kyrou who play the opposite way of how the team found success. So it's really not surprising they'd get rid of Berube.

 

[TheOrganist]

Chief will always be a legend in STL. Needs a good tactician as an assistant coach but he’s a great leader and will be a good hire wherever he lands.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I remember when Drew Bannister got traded for Bobby Dollas right before an Oilers/Ducks game and they just switched dressing rooms.

I remember him from NHL 2000. I'd always do fantasy draft and I'd pick him with one of my last picks to fill out my d core with 3 LHD and 3 RHD