St. Louis Blues Appoints Drew Bannister as Permanent Head Coach

Tuesday, May 7th, 2024

The St. Louis Blues have announced Drew Bannister as their newest head coach, officially removing his temporary status.

Bannister has agreed to a two-year deal to take the helm as the 27th head coach in the history of the team. This appointment comes after he stepped in as interim head coach in December 2023, succeeding Craig Berube.

During his tenure as interim coach, Bannister led the Blues to a record of 30-19-5 for the regular season. This performance marked an improvement from 23rd to 12th in the NHL for team goals-against average. However, this boost wasn't enough to secure a playoff berth, marking the second year in a row the team has missed out.

Doug Armstrong, the president of the Blues, has shown a solid vote of confidence in Bannister's ability to steer the team, acknowledging the team's progression under his guidance.

Bannister brings a wealth of experience from his time in the OHL and AHL and has outlined his focus on forging strong connections with key players like Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, Colton Parayko, and Justin Faulk.

Armstrong commended Bannister for his adept handling of the team's challenges over the past year and looked forward to the direction the team would take with Bannister at the helm.

Additionally, Bannister will have the support of the entire assistant coaching staff as they work together in the upcoming seasons.

Related Links

• St. Louis Blues News & Updates
• St. Louis Blues Schedule & Scores
• NHL News