32 Thoughts: What's next for the Blues after Craig Berube firing?

Was working on something else this week, so an abridged version. Much more next week. Right to the thoughts:

THOUGHTS

1. There was shock at the news Minnesota and its assistant GM, Chris O’Hearn, “mutually agreed to part ways.” We will see what the next few days bring, as I’m not sure the investigation into whatever happened here is complete.

2. When the NHL brought its GMs and coaches together in Chicago before the season, one of the things they were told was media — especially rightsholders — and fans were demanding more “all-access” style programming. (Full disclosure: I work for a rightsholder.) As part of that, it was made very clear that anyone asked to wear a microphone did so. Sometime this week, a note went out indicating that some of these requests were being declined and this is to change, right away. I bring this up not to “wave the media flag,” but because one executive noted to me Wednesday that this is a real change in attitude from the NHL. It has never pushed as hard as it is doing now. Things are changing.

3. St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong did not guarantee Drew Bannister remains Blues coach for the rest of the season, but Bannister gets the advantage of being “first with the keys.” If the team gets the new coach bounce like Edmonton and Minnesota, Bannister solidifies his grip on the wheel before anyone else gets a chance to drive.

Generally, in cases like these, Bannister gets a contract through the rest of the year, but Armstrong’s comment indicates there’s at least one person (probably more) he wants to talk to. As of Wednesday, Joel Quenneville, who coached St. Louis from 1997-2004, is not re-instated by the NHL. Ken Holland and Doug Armstrong are tight, so there’s no question the latter will ask the former about Jay Woodcroft. Obviously, there will be others.

4. Craig Berube, honest and blunt as they come, simply ran out of time in St. Louis. Hired five years ago, he was universally praised by the players upon winning the Stanley Cup eight months after he took over. He coached like he played: unceasing, demanding and challenging.

I always think of Larry Bird’s rule for coaching: three years maximum, because even the players who love playing for you get tired of you.

If there’s one thing that needs to be changed right away, it is the defensive zone. The Blues are one of the worst teams in the NHL at defending the slot, allowing a higher percentage of chances from there than almost every team. Armstrong alluded to that when asked about his defencemen: “When our team game suffers, (our defence) and our goalie looks the worst. And our variance on a nightly basis is concerning.”

5. Armstrong, also no shrinking violet, was typically direct. St. Louis’s last three losses were to Columbus (5-2), Chicago (3-1) and Detroit (6-4). “When you get up and read the clippings the next day,” he said, “and the players from the opposition, the coaches, are saying, ‘What a character win, what a gutsy win, I can’t believe we did that last night, we’re undermanned, we played the night before against a rested team.’ If they feel that way about their performance, how would we feel about our performance?”

Later: “I can't believe anyone could put up those last three rosters that we played and think we should lose all three of those games.” He’s definitely looked at the trade market, but not found anything to his liking. He tried to move Jakub Vrana before putting him on waivers, but found no takers. 

6. Armstrong said he hired Brad Richards as a power play consultant. SportLogiq indicates the Blues are actually fourth-best in the NHL at offensive zone time with the man advantage. But they have the second-worst power play in the league. Also: can’t believe Ron MacLean didn’t break this story.

7. No comment from team or agent, but sounds like Shane Pinto will be returning to Ottawa in the near future. He is eligible to return to action Jan. 21, but obviously needs to be there earlier to re-set in the area.

8. Not sure yet what it means for an NHL return, but Zach Parise’s been skating pretty hard in Minnesota. I assume, when ready, it will be the Islanders. 

9. A few weeks ago, I saw Vancouver as the favourite for Ethan Bear. What other interested parties could see, however, was the Canucks’ salary-cap limitations. Washington, which has some LTIR flexibility, could offer a second year at approximately $2M and land the player. Vancouver — and others — wanted to get through this year, then consider an extension in the offseason. Now, we wait to see the domino effect on the Capitals’ blue line. There’s time, as Bear is not yet ready to play. 

10. The Canucks still have Andrei Kuzmenko on their first power play. If he was removed from that, I’d really be worried about his status in Vancouver. It’s not uncommon for teams to have talented offensive players/scorers to play low minutes on your roster. Seattle did it with Daniel Sprong (last year) and Sam Gagner’s done it in a couple of places, but no one’s really done it with Kuzmenko’s cap hit.

I’m not convinced he’s getting traded anytime soon, but they’re going to know the possibilities. We’ve talked a lot about what they could do on defence, but I also think the Canucks are considering their forward mix. They know the road through Vegas means a strong one-to-12 forward unit. You’ve got to be deep to win on the strip. 

11. There will be a lot of great stories told Thursday when Roberto Luongo is added to the Canucks’ Ring of Honour. (Still time to surprise us with a number retirement wink, wink.) There are so many to choose from, but my favourite is from when he replaced a cramping up Cory Schneider in Game 6 of the incredible 2011 opening-round series against Chicago.

In Luongo’s own words: “At the start of the third, Schneids didn’t say anything to me as far as how he was feeling, like he was cramping up. In Chicago, there’s not a lot of room on the bench. So I was actually watching the game in the dressing room. When they got the penalty shot and scored, I was looking at it like, ‘Why is he staying down?’ I wasn’t understanding what was happening. Within 10 or 15 seconds, somebody from the bench runs in the locker room to tell me that he’s cramped up: ‘You have to go in.’ And I was like, ‘Holy crap. What the hell is going on here?’ So I put on my gear, and I swear to God, this is the honest truth: As soon as I walked through the tunnel, and people saw that I was coming out, I felt like a wrestler coming out to the ring. People were yelling, they’re chanting my name. It was absurd, it was so crazy. That moment I honestly felt like Stone Cold Steve Austin coming to the ring…It was one of my favourite moments of my career.” Love it.

12. Two goals in two games for Jonatan Berggren since his call-up. I’m not sure he’d gone as far as asking for a trade from Detroit, but everyone was aware he wanted more of an opportunity. You’ve got to be ready when it comes, and he is. 

13. Still being determined, but Seattle is bracing for the possibility Philipp Grubauer’s absence is a long one. 

14. I’ve written before that the NHLPA did not contest Patrik Berglund’s contract termination from Buffalo in 2018 because the player wanted no part of it. Don’t know what Corey Perry’s decision will be, but there definitely is a push for the union to grieve even if Perry declines. I don’t know exact details and have no desire to minimize anything, but there are strong feelings the NHLPA cannot allow this precedent.

Another option would be a one-time “carve-out” that Perry’s case/reason for termination will have no bearing on any other situation. (Of course, the league would need to agree.) That has happened before with things like contract timelines during COVID and what is allowed during summer on-ice workouts, but this would be much higher stakes.

15. Not expecting Commissioner Gary Bettman to do anything but back George Parros’s six-game suspension to David Perron. He’s already done it this year with Rasmus Andersson and Charlie McAvoy. What we have seen is the independent arbitrator, who Perron could appeal to if Bettman does not reduce, decrease the punishment. That occurred with Dennis Wideman (20 games to 10) and Tom Wilson (20 to 14).

Perron’s challenge will be timing. He’s sat two games. Wideman’s reduction came after he’d already missed 19 and Wilson’s, 16 — so they regained some salary. Perron’s agent, Allan Walsh, outlined the appeal on social media, so everyone knows what he and the NHLPA are going to argue. Walsh is very vocal (and serious) about head injuries and CTE, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the NHL brings that up in response to his complaints.  

16. Ryan Strome has no discipline history and certainly doesn’t have a dirty reputation, but Winnipeg was very disappointed he did not receive a suspension for the collision that knocked out Kyle Connor six-to-eight weeks. Ducks coach Greg Cronin backed his player to the end, while the Jets argued Strome’s feet were not set before he made contact with Connor.

17. Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid at 10pm ET? Come on. Should be Prime Time, nationally televised everywhere in North America.

18. Luke Fox wrote Sportsnet’s story about changes to the All-Star Skills. NHL Entertainment guru Steve Mayer talked at length about his discussions with McDavid. It wasn’t only that Edmonton’s superstar helped re-shape the competition, it was also about him agreeing to be one of the 12 participants for the $1M prize.

19. One agent reached out to say the goalies deserve their own $1M competition. 

20. Confidence is everything in athletic success to business to introducing yourself to someone you find attractive. It was tough to watch Josh Anderson in the shootout of Wednesday’s Pittsburgh/Montreal game. He looked like he wanted no part of it. Badly needs something to go his way.

21. Kind of amazing that Toronto’s fifth in the NHL in points percentage with their injuries on defence and in net, amidst their search to beef up the blue line. Credit to the likes of Simon Benoit, William Lagesson and Conor Timmins — giving it their all knowing they’re the most vulnerable to an addition.  

22. Asked Ryan O’Reilly last weekend if any of the younger Predators asked to look at his unique stick-blade. He said what they were most surprised with was the 110 flex on his stick. That’s practically a crowbar — and rare for a forward. A defenceman looking to fire the puck? Sure. Shea Weber used a 122 when he won the All-Star Hardest Shot in Nashville. O’Reilly said he uses such a stiff shaft because of the stick battles he gets into. 

23. Andrew Brunette laughed when asked if he had any specific rules for Roman Josi, but did say there was one change requested of him: the team wanted to get the puck up ice faster, so there are times he’s asked to pass it rather than carry it. 

24. Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told a great story last week about heading back to Detroit after working on the Hockey Night panel during the playoffs. “I’m going over the border, (the customs official) hands my passport back. He goes, ‘Maybe next year you can actually work in the playoffs instead of talk about the playoffs.’” Tough crowd, but never pick a fight with a border guard. 

25. Looking forward to Macklin Celebrini serving at the World Juniors, but shocked that WHL Moose Jaw’s Jagger Firkus was cut. Admittedly, I don’t get to see much junior action, but a 19-year-old with his pedigree and 27 goals in 29 games being sent home after such a short camp surprised me. 

26. One week after Bettman told the Board of Governors that construction on the hockey arena for the 2026 Winter Olympics had not yet begun, Front Office Sports’ David Rumsey reported a “budget error” may force bobsled, luge and sliding events to be held outside of Italy. According to Rumsey, officials budgeted $60M for the sliding facility, then faced estimates of a $160M build. Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the United States were contacted about being a replacement host. That’s never happened in a Winter Games, but the equestrian events in 1956 were held in Sweden instead of Australia because of quarantine rules. 

27. Days after the AHL suspended Chicago coach Bob Nardella 10 games for using homophobic language against an official, he released a statement denying he’d done so. There is more to learn, but it is strange the Wolves didn’t have their coach’s statement on their website or social media accounts.