St. Louis Blues: Striking a balance between moving forward and paying tribute to the past
St. Louis Blues fans can proudly remember the 2019 Cup win. But with a roster that differs significantly from the championship team, how do Blues fans respect the past while moving on from the miraculous year?
I'll preface by saying I'm a Denver Broncos fan, born and raised. John Elway's 5 Super Bowl appearances (2-3 overall) defined my glory days, as he ended his NFL career with consecutive victories.
The St. Louis Blues achieved the ultimate victory in 2019, winning their first Cup under a head coach who almost mirrored the play of great players such as Ryan O'Reilly, Jordan Binnington, and Alex Pietrangelo.
Most players from the championship team have moved on. Few holdovers remain, notably Jordan Binnington, Colton Parayko, Brayden Schenn, and Robert Thomas.
It's time to move on and brace yourself for a different era from 2019
The firing of Craig Berube hurt. Most fans were angered and sad. Rightfully so, the coach who led the team to the only Cup in franchise history was fired.
In 2023, Berube was one of the final components of the original Cup team.
Berube embodied the perfect coach for the ideal team to beat the prestigious Boston Bruins.
He lit a fire in a unit that resonated with the fans and brought competitiveness to St. Louis Blues hockey that hasn't been seen in years.
While these may be fighting words for some, it's probably best that Berube isn't the coach anymore. After all, the team has a different makeup.
Who are the stars? Probably Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and a future Jake Neighbours.
The team changed. The veteran make-up of O'Reilly, Pietrangelo, and Vladimir Tarasenko departed.
As a Broncos fan, Mike Shanahan was the guy who figured out how to help Elway win his first ring. Dan Reeves couldn't do it.
When Elway retired, Shanahan never achieved the same success with Jake Plummer and Jay Culter.
Berube was the right coach for the perfect time and perfect team in 2018-19. I'll argue that Berube would've had even more successful years, but COVID-19 altered NHL play, changing all pro sports for a couple of years.
Berube is a good coach, and I expect him to do amazing things in Toronto. But this roster differs from the previous one, and I am not talking about talent. I'm talking about personality.
St. Louis Blues: The current roster can succeed
Unlike some, I have high expectations and hopes for this existing roster. With the right mix of up-and-coming talent, plus the existing proven veterans, the Blues can make noise, even in the playoffs.
Why couldn't they? They were very close to playoff contention. Give Drew Bannister credit; his 30-19-5 record is impressive. Give him a shot at a whole season.
As fans, we must remember and smile about the glory days of championship wins. It's only natural. However, we must also realize that this team is nothing like the 2019 team. It's built entirely differently, and that's okay.
Berube will always have a place in the St. Louis Blues franchise history, but Blues fans must move on and embrace the new philosophy to restore competitive play.
And guess what? Berube's legacy will endure in the franchise through his close ties to current players like Jordan Binnington and perhaps even in future front-office decisions made by GM Alexander Steen.
Always remember that Elway and Gary Kubiak were instrumental in guiding my Broncos to another Super Bowl victory, one from the front office and coaching ranks. Shanahan had a historic connection to both of them. The hiring of Steen ensures that 2019 will be remembered, as Armstrong emphasized the significance of the glory days.
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