St. Louis Blues: Making a Bold Prediction on Drew Bannister's Success
By David Crum
The hiring of Drew Bannister might not be considered a home run hire. In fact, some fans expressed their displeasure with his interim tag being removed.
However, general manager Doug Armstrong has earned the right to be trusted in managerial decisions, at least for now.
Drew Bannister can develop players
Bannister's experience is centered around his ability to mentor, develop and coach prospects. This is evident from his time in the AHL with San Antonio, and the last couple of seasons in Springfield.
Notably, his Springfield Thunderbirds made it to the 2022 Calder Cup Finals, showcasing his expertise and talent within the prospect leagues.
Sure, Bannister has experience with several key players such as Jordan Kyrou, but Kyrou alone is not the reason Bannister earned the official title as head coach.
First, he finished the season with a 30-19-5 record, well above .500.
Even then, Bannister can coach. He has an impressive coaching resume, including time in the OHL and his AHL stint.
In Springfield, he compiled a 93-58-19 record.
Expect more than just growth from Jordan Kyrou
While Armstrong would be elated to see development and potential elite play from Kyrou, Bannister's hire signals a new beginning has started in St. Louis.
This new beginning under Bannister is focused on youth, and future prospects such as Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky.
Yet, within their existing roster, the Blues have players needing further developmental skills, such as Alexey Toropchenko.
Toropchenko is a physical body that any coach would love the opportunity to develop further. If he can build upon his existing talent, he could be a solid player for the franchise.
But there are hidden gems, such as Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Perunovich, and Tyler Tucker, who might be resigned.
Armstrong is betting on Bannister. The move to hire him as coach indicates that Armstrong believes the roster has hidden talent, especially in some of the younger players.
Assuredly, not everyone returns; outside of Toropchenko.
But fans do have a legitimate chance to see prospects such as Dvorsky.
Bannister's success has been built on trust and, by his own admission, "accountability." He is a player's coach with a proven track record of success.
Expect Bannister to bring out new talent from the least expected; that is what he was hired for.
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