St. Louis Blues Have Hired A Head Coach Elect in Mike Yeo

There have been some odd things happening in St. Louis this off-season. The Blues are boasting BIG changes within the organization and I have sat back and waited to see what BIG changes were coming down the pike. And I have waited and waited…nothing major has shaken the organization to its roots this off-season. Maybe I missed something but the only thing that I would consider major – and that is stretching it – is the fact that the Blues hired an assistant coach named Mike Yeo. Yeo should sound familiar to hockey fans since he has had his share of gigs around the league. Why is this major, you are wondering? Well, okay, you got me there. It is not really major except for the fact that general manager Doug Armstrong has proclaimed that Mike Yeo is the next head coach of the St. Louis Blues.

This interesting announcement came after signing a one year contract extension with current head coach Ken Hitchcock and announcing that Mike Yeo was simply an assistant coach. So, for the 2016-2017 season the Blues will have current head coach Ken Hitchcock and head coach elect for the 2017-2018 season Mike Yeo behind the bench. I think this might be just a bit confusing to the players, the media and the fans.

Ken Hitchcock has stated that after this upcoming season he will retire from coaching. This is one last hoorah for Hitch, one last chance for him to add another Stanley Cup ring to his collection of awards and accolades. Since Hitch is on record proclaiming retirement after one last season, is he grooming Yeo to take over the Blues and continue with his coaching style? I truly hope not. While I have been a champion of Hitchcock’s since he came to St. Louis, no two coaches have the same coaching style or approach to getting through to their team. Hitch is known for creating a cohesive team that lives and dies together during highs and slumps with little to no finger pointing. He is steady behind the bench and in the locker-room.

What will Mike Yeo bring to the St. Louis Blues as assistant coach? He will hopefully give support to Hitch and provide solid coaching to the younger players. Yeo needs to come in and prove that he is ready to work with the other assistant coaches and head coach towards building a winning franchise rather than settle for a playoff placement. But he is also walking the fine line of becoming the next head coach. He has to present that persona to the players, especially the players who will be with the team beyond this season.

While it has not been an off-season of BIG changes, it has been an off-season of interesting moves by the St. Louis Blues. The Ken Hitchcock/Mike Yeo saga could be an interesting sideshow as long as it does not have a negative effect on the players and the team as a whole.