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The St. Louis Blues have fired head coach Craig Berube, the team announced Tuesday.
Drew Bannister, coach of the team’s AHL affiliate in Springfield, will serve as interim coach.
The Blues made the announcement just hours after suffering their fourth consecutive loss — a 6-4 setback against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blues (13-14-1) are sixth in the Central Division this year after missing the playoffs for the first time in Berube’s run as head coach last season.
Berube was promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach in November 2018 after the Blues fired Mike Yeo. The Blues went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, and the interim tag was lifted in the summer as Berube got a three-year extension.
The Blues made the playoffs the next three years, but suffered two first-round losses and one second-round defeat.
The Calahoo, Alta. native was previously head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for almost two full seasons from 2013-15.
Berube, 57, is the third NHL coach fired this season — following Jay Woodcroft (Edmonton Oilers) and Dean Evason (Minnesota Wild).
Bannister, 49, has spent the past three seasons with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield, leading the team to a 93-58-19 regular-season record. The Belleville, Ont. native has also guided the Thunderbirds to consecutive playoff appearances, including 2021-22, when they won the Eastern Conference and reached the Calder Cup Final.
Bannister also has three years of head-coaching experience with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
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