Today it was announced, courtesy of Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that Mike Yeo will be brought on as an assistant coach and will take over the Blues from Ken Hitchcock when he retires after the 2016-17 season. After a good year this past season, many weren’t sure what would be happening to the Blues coaching position. They played above many people’s expectations, yet didn’t make the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup. It is a tough situation to put a coach in, but it looks like Mike Yeo will get to inherit that pressure after Hitchcock’s farewell tour.
Yeo, most recently coached the Minnesota Wild, a team that at times was in disrepair. His team’s often didn’t meet expectations due to poor goaltending, but he was able to get the most out of his forwards and some underrated defensemen. If his time in Minnesota is any indication, he should do well with the Blues. He isn’t the most inspiring choice but it isn’t like the team needs a big overhaul in the first place. He will definitely work well with Hitchcock during his short time as an assistant and keep the status quo moving forward.
If you are a Blues fan looking for a big change, this isn’t going to be the most popular move. The Blues have been caught in a no-man’s land for the past few years and are unsure of what to do next. Is Yeo going to be the answer? Isn’t the definition of insanity when you repeat yourself over and over again expecting a different result? If you are a Blues fan this is a sideways move, if anything.
