Craig Berube, Blues Agree to 3-Year Contract as HC After 2019 Stanley Cup Title
Jun 25, 2019
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 19: Head coach Craig Berube St. Louis Blues arrive at the 2019 NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
It didn't take the St. Louis Blues long to commit to head coach Craig Berube.
The team announced Tuesday that Berube—who took over as the interim coach on Nov. 19 and promptly led the team to a Stanley Cup title—had been signed to a three-year contract.
"This is a proud day for me and my family," Berube said, perJeremy Rutherfordof The Athletic. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for this team and this organization and the city has embraced me as one of their own. This past season was the experience of a lifetime and I'm anxious to get started on our title defense."
Berube led the Blues to a 38-19-6 record upon taking over as head coach and led the team to playoff series wins over the Winnipeg Jets (six games), Dallas Stars (seven games), San Jose Sharks (six games) and Boston Bruins (seven games).
He was named a finalist for the 2019 Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL's top head coach. New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz won the award.
Regardless, Berube became a St. Louis legend after leading the team to its first Stanley Cup triumph.
His appointment as interim head coach was a major turning point for the Blues. The other was the emergence of rookie goalie Jordan Binnington, who took over as the starter in January and went 24-5-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average and 92.7 save percentage.
That made him a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the league's best rookie, though Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson took home the award.
Behind Berube and Binnington, the Blues shocked the NHL world and became champions. That made it all but a foregone conclusion that the Blues would do whatever it took to keep Berube with the team going into the future.
Blues' Ryan O'Reilly Wins 2019 Selke Trophy as NHL's Top Defensive Forward
Jun 19, 2019
St. Louis Blues' Ryan O'Reilly is seen during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues center Ryan O'Reilly became a first-time winner of the Selke Trophy, awarded to the forward who made the biggest defensive impact, on Wednesday.
He beat out Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron and Vegas Golden Knights winger Mark Stone for the award.
Selke Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly led the NHL in face-off wins for the second consecutive season while topping all @StLouisBlues skaters in plus-minus (+22) and ice time per game (20:46).
Winning the Selke Trophy along with the Conn Smythe Trophy puts O'Reilly in exclusive company, per Sportsnet Stats:
#STLBlues Ryan O'Reilly joins Bob Gainey (1978-79) as the only players to win the Selke & Conn Smythe Trophies in the same season pic.twitter.com/WRyJ0c7Jxu
O'Reilly, 28, scored 28 goals and 49 assists in 2018-19, posting a plus-minus of plus-22.
Sean Leahyof NBC Sports praised O'Reilly's ability to produce on both ends of the ice:
"He was once again strong in the face-off circle with a 56.9 percent success rate, posted a 53.44 Corsi percent, his best since the 2013 NHL season, and had a 2.82 Corsi relative percentage. The Blues had a 93.39 percent on-ice save percentage when O'Reilly was out there at even strength and his 42.53 expected goals against percentage led the team's forwards."
Corsi rating is a measurement of shot attempt differential at even strength.
Bergeron, 33, is a four-time winner of the award, tied for the most in NHL history with Bob Gainey. He was once again superb in the 2018-19 season, registering 32 goals, 47 assists and posting a plus-minus of plus-23. He had a faceoff win percentage of 56.6 percent and a Corsi rating of 56.77 percent.
Stone also put his best foot forward in 2018-19 to put him in contention for his first Selke Award. He scored 33 goals and 40 assists, posting a plus-minus of plus-13. He led the NHL with 122 takeaways and posted a 52.99 percent Corsi rating.
He was attempting to become the rare winger to claim the award, but O'Reilly earned the honor over him.
Blues Parade 2019: Twitter Reaction, Photos, Videos, GIFs and More
Jun 15, 2019
St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube carries the Stanley Cup after the Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The St. Louis Blues celebrated their first Stanley Cup in franchise history Saturday with a massive parade in downtown St. Louis that was attended by an estimated 500,000 fans.
St. Louis entered the NHL as an expansion team in 1967, but it wasn't until the Blues beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday that the Gateway City could call its team the Stanley Cup champions.
As seen in the following graphic of the parade route, the Blues celebrated down Market Street before addressing the fans on the Gateway Arch grounds:
Supporters lined the streets to celebrate not only the first championship in Blues history, but the first major professional sports title for the city since the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2011:
Although the weather was dreary and even rainy at times until the sun came out later in the afternoon, the turnout was massive, and it was bolstered by the presence of a large Blues alumni contingent.
Celebrating alongside the 2018-19 Blues were many of the all-time great Blues players. Chief among them was Hall of Famer Brett Hull, who displayed incredible energy on the parade route and on stage while whipping the crowd into a frenzy:
If Hull had the most fun of anyone in attendance at the parade, Jordan Binnington may have been a close second.
The rookie goaltender worked hard during the road to the Blues' first Stanley Cup win, but he may have worked even harder Saturday, as he played the tuba and rode down Market Street on a motorbike:
Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O'Reilly turned some heads with a unique hat choice, and he was impressed with the city's ability to party:
"This is a city of amazing hockey fans, amazing people and amazing drinkers, too. They can handle themselves." - Ryan O'Reilly pic.twitter.com/O8AY0KjWgs
The players made sure to involve fans as much as possible throughout the parade. Forward Brayden Schenn popped the cork on some champagne and sprayed the approving crowd on a day they won't soon forget:
Also, forward Patrick Maroon, who is a St. Louis native and became a huge fan favorite during his first year with the Blues, spent plenty of time among the fans while the team made its way to the Gateway Arch:
Perhaps no fan had a bigger impact on the Blues during their run to the Stanley Cup than 11-year-old Laila Anderson, who is battling a life-threatening autoimmune disease that only 15 other children have been diagnosed with, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski in May.
Laila is a Blues superfan who was invited onto the ice to celebrate with the team after their Cup win, and she had a major presence in the parade Saturday:
After a long and eventful walk down Market Street, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo carried the Stanley Cup toward the Gateway Arch for the grand finale:
Many of those who were essential to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history got a chance to address the crowd on stage, including O'Reilly, Binnington, head coach Craig Berube and general manager Doug Armstrong.
The biggest reaction of all may have gone to Maroon, though, as he christened himself a hometown hero:
In a fitting end to the celebration, the closing moments of the Blues' Game 7 win over the Bruins played on the big screen, and it allowed the players, coaches and fans to celebrate one more time.
With most of St. Louis' key players, including O'Reilly, Pietrangelo, Binnington, Schenn, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko, in line to return next season, the Blues are well equipped to potentially make another run at the Cup and another parade next year.
Blues Parade 2019: Route, Date, Schedule, TV Info and More
Jun 13, 2019
St. Louis Blues' Ryan O'Reilly, center, celebrates his goal with teammates Alex Pietrangelo, left, Sammy Blais, rear, and Jay Bouwmeester, right, during the first period in Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The St. Louis Blues are NHL champions for the first time since their franchise's 1967 debut, as they defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday at TD Garden.
St. Louis has plenty of celebrating to do after seeing the city's first championship since 2011, when the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
It will have a chance to congratulate the Blues in person for the city parade. Here's a look at all of the relevant details.
The Blues announced Thursday that the parade will take place Saturday, June 15, beginning at 1 p.m. ET (noon local time). The organization also provided some insight on the parade route:
Your #stlblues are champions!!! Celebrate with us Saturday at the 2019 Blues Championship Parade & Rally!
The parade will start at noon at 18th St. & Market St., and end at Broadway & Market St. The rally will take place after at the Gateway Arch.
A raucous throng of fans should await the Blues if the Wednesday night scene at Busch Stadium is any indication. Despite inclement weather, tens of thousands of fans watched their team win the Stanley Cup on a Jumbotron:
And a bunch of fans either there, at the Enterprise Center or off the street celebrated into the night:
IN THE STREETS: #STLBlues fans party outside Busch Stadium and Enterprise Center, as thousands gather to celebrate the Blues Stanley Cup Championship! pic.twitter.com/zIQcIbJDpJ
The Blues didn't look anywhere close to Stanley Cup champions on Jan. 2. Their 34 points (on a 15-18-4 record) was the league's lowest mark. Furthermore, Caesars Palace listed the Blues as 250-1 underdogs to win the Cup on Jan. 7.
However, St. Louis rode a new goaltender in Jordan Binnington to a playoff berth. The 25-year-old got a midseason call-up and proceeded to go 24-5-1 in 30 games, helping the Blues earn third place in the Central Division with 99 points after a 30-10-5 finish.
The playoffs were never a cakewalk for St. Louis: The team won two six-game series and two seven-game sets. However, the Blues dominated on the road to the tune of a 10-3 playoff record, including 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final.
The road warriors will return home for the parade. "Hundreds of thousands" cheered the Cardinals when they won the 2011 World Series, per Veronique LaCapra of St. Louis Public Radio. Expect the same when fans celebrate the Blues' first title.
Video: Blues Fans Rock Golf Cart During Rowdy Stanley Cup Final Celebration
Jun 13, 2019
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates with the fans after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
St. Louis Blues fans didn't waste time celebrating their team's first Stanley Cup win in their 51-season history on Wednesday.
Per video shot by Jacob Melsha (h/t SI Extra Mustard), they didn't wait long to nearly flip a golf cart in the middle of a downtown street either:
IN THE STREETS: #STLBlues fans party outside Busch Stadium and Enterprise Center, as thousands gather to celebrate the Blues Stanley Cup Championship! pic.twitter.com/zIQcIbJDpJ
The majority of the throng arrived downtown out of Busch Stadium and Enterprise Center, where fans attended watch parties for their team's 4-1 road win over the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Post-celebration (or post-loss) antics are nothing new. For example, West Virginia fans have burned couches enough to the point where a PSA was made to help prevent the act. Philadelphia Eagles fans climbed light poles after their team won Super Bowl LII, and Toronto Raptors fans climbed buses and prevented guard Fred VanVleet from leaving Scotiabank Arena.
Blues fans are happy to add their name to the list of celebrations, especially after the team ended a five-decade championship drought.
Video: Watch Blues Superfan Laila Anderson Hoist Stanley Cup After Game 7 Win
Jun 12, 2019
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven to win the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Blues' biggest fan got to meet Lord Stanley on Wednesday.
The Blues brought superfan Laila Anderson with them to Boston's TD Garden for Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, and they delivered in front of her with a resounding 4-1 victory over the Bruins to win their first championship in franchise history.
Anderson was among those on the ice after the game who got to meet the Stanley Cup:
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 13, 2019
She and the rest of the team got to hold the Cup in large part because of goaltender Jordan Binnington, who turned in one of the most memorable performances in Stanley Cup Final history. The rookie stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced, only allowing a goal after the game was well in hand in the final minutes.
He survived an initial onslaught from the Bruins that saw the home team dictate play and create almost every early chance. Had Binnington not stood strong, Boston would have built a multi-goal lead and likely rode the momentum to a championship.
Binnington's effort gave his offense a chance to finally do some damage, and Ryan O'Reilly was the first to find the back of the net. From there, Alex Pietrangelo, Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford lit the lamp to all but put away the victory and clinch the title.
That it was O'Reilly who started the scoring was no surprise to Anderson:
Blues superfan/good luck charm Laila Anderson told me she has “a gift for calling the first goal.”
Before the game, she told her mom Ryan O’Reilly would score first. Her mom was skeptical.
Laila: “Mom, two things: you should never doubt ROR, and you should never doubt me.” pic.twitter.com/dPuDXL1iJQ
Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted the 11-year-old "is fighting a rare disease." Blues forward Pat Maroon said she "has been an inspiration to all of us throughout the year," per Hochman.
Her journey to Boston culminated in the team's first Stanley Cup title in 51 seasons of trying and a memorable encounter with the trophy she will surely never forget.
Scott Berry Wins $100K After Betting $400 on Blues to Win Stanley Cup in January
Jun 12, 2019
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: The St. Louis Blues celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven to win the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
When Scott Berry put $400 on the St. Louis Blues to win the 2019 Stanley Cup in January, the chances of him cashing in on that wager did not appear promising.
In fact, at the time of his bet, the Blues had 250-1 odds.
This piece of paper, purchased in Vegas in January for $400 is now worth $100,000. Remarkable. pic.twitter.com/l7ffGIgptT
Now, it's hard to imagine him ever making a better wager.
St. Louis completed its unbelievable turnaround with a 4-1 road win over the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night. Not only does the victory bring home the franchise's first Stanley Cup in its 52-year existence, but it also provided a nice payout for Berry.
As in a $100,000 payout.
Berry had opportunities to hedge, as the Action Network's Darren Rovell reported, but he decided to ride it out:
"You know it's so funny, it's like I never in a million years thought I would be watching a game where I either am a $100,000 victor or I'm walking away with my tail between my legs. But, I've got all faith in these guys, I still think they're gonna do it, they're a better road team so tonight's gonna be an emotional roller coaster. You'll probably see me in tears either way."
This was the scene when he officially came out on top of the wager, via Rovell:
What is it like when your team wins the Stanley Cup and you won $100,000 off a $400 bet? Here’s @ScottABerry1 (with champagne bottle in hand) in the middle celebrating with friends. pic.twitter.com/Mt9j6FuFu3
Ryan O'Reilly Wins 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy After Blues Capture 1st Stanley Cup
Jun 12, 2019
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues hoists the cup after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 to win Game Seven of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Ryan O'Reilly has been the St. Louis Blues' most productive scorer in the Stanley Cup Final, and he also scored the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 13, 2019
The 28-year-old was hottest in the Final and scored the opening goal in the Blues' 4-1 Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night to claim the first championship in the franchise's history. In the series, O'Reilly led St. Louis with five goals.
With Wednesday's goal, O'Reilly became the first player to score in four straight Stanley Cup Final games since Wayne Gretzky in 1985—pretty good company—and also became the third player in NHL history to notch his team's opening score in four consecutive Final contests.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs as a whole, O'Reilly scored eight goals and tallied a team-high 23 points. If that weren't impressive enough, he revealed while meeting with the media after the game that he played through cracked ribs suffered in the first round against the Winnipeg Jets.
The 2018-19 season was O'Reilly's first as a Blue. General manager Doug Armstrong worked hard to acquire the center from the Buffalo Sabres, and the trade was official on July 1. It certainly paid off.
It was also rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington's first, and the 25-year-old, drafted by the Blues in the third round of the 2011 NHL draft, also made a case for the Conn Smythe.
Binnington took over as the Blues' starter on Jan. 7, days after the team was the worst in the entire NHL with just 34 points. St. Louis' ascension correlated with Binnington's, and he became the winningest rookie goaltender in NHL history with 16 victories during this playoff run.
Game 7 was the best of his young career, as he saved 32 shots on goal, including acrobatic stonewalls like this one in the third period when the Blues still held on to a less certain 2-0 lead:
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 13, 2019
Ultimately, though, it was O'Reilly's consistency that superseded.
Cardinals to Host Blues Stanley Cup Final Game 7 Watch Party at Busch Stadium
Jun 10, 2019
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 6: A general view of Busch Stadium during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres on April 6, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
As the St. Louis Blues take on the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, St. Louis fans will be hoping that the championship juju present in Busch Stadium rubs off on a franchise seeking its first-ever title.
Major League Baseball's Cardinals announced Monday night that their stadium will host a watch party for Game 7 "due to an overwhelming demand from fans to attend the St. Louis Blues watch party at Enterprise Center."
Limited tickets will go on sale Tuesday.
The Blues had a chance to clinch the title Sunday night at home, but Boston overwhelmed them in a 5-1 Game 6 win.
The city was ready to erupt, as around 50,000 fans took to the streets of downtown St. Louis.
This is the Blues' first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 49 years, when the Bruins swept them.
For this particular team to even be in position to bring Lord Stanley to St. Louis is unlikely. The team started the season 7-9-3, which led to the firing of head coach Mike Yeo on Nov. 19 and the hiring of interim head coach Craig Berube.
On Jan. 3, the Blues were the worst team in the NHL at 15-18-4 and 34 points. Rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington made his first start Jan. 7, and the team's ascension has correlated with his.
Jordan Binnington of the @StLouisBlues improved to 15-9 this postseason (2.46 GAA, .913 SV%, 1 SO) to match the single-year playoff record for wins by a rookie goaltender.
Jordan Binnington of the @StLouisBlues can become the 14th different rookie goaltender in NHL history to earn a Cup-clinching win and fifth to do so in the expansion era (since 1967-68).
According to NHL PR, the Bruins hold a 15-12 all-time record in Game 7s—the most in league history—while the Blues are 9-8. Most relevant, though, is St. Louis' 4-6 record as the away team in such games compared to Boston's 14-8 record at home.
There is still history at stake should Boston prevail, as Wednesday will be the first Game 7 the Bruins have hosted in their 94-year history.
The Blues and Bruins are slated for an 8 p.m. ET start Wednesday night from Boston's TD Garden.
Look: Ads Celebrating Blues' Stanley Cup Win Run Before Game 6 of Bruins Series
Jun 9, 2019
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 06: David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his third period goal against the Boston Bruins in Game Five of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The city of St. Louis may be getting a bit ahead of itself.
On Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran both an Enterprise advertisement celebrating a Blues' Stanley Cup title and a letter from the team's chairman and governor Tom Stillman thanking the city in its online edition for subscribers.
Per @robheaton & @stltoday, these ads were in today’s subscriber-only e-edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The issue? The Blues haven't actually won the Stanley Cup yet. They currently hold a 3-2 lead over the Boston Bruins.
"Winning the Stanley Cup was a dream come true for so many of you," Stillman wrote in the prematurely released letter. "All of us will remember where we were, what we did and how we felt when the Blues brought the Cup home."
He also revealed the potential parade route.
"We are so very proud of our players, our organization and our fans. And now, together, we can finally say 'We won the Cup for St. Louis,'" Stillman said. "We look forward to celebrating with you as we parade the Cup down Market Street."
The online content coordinator for the paper, Beth O'Malley, apologized for the mistake.
"In preparation for the outcome of the Stanley Cup Final, some of our readers got a sneak peek at what our advertisers are hoping to say to the Blues, the fans and St. Louis," she said. "We apologize for the sneak peek and hope to share their messages with everyone very soon!"
There is bulletin board material, and then there is bulletin board material. You can bet the Bruins players have been made very aware of this little slip-up from the Post-Dispatch and Stillman.
