ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues fans are talking Wednesday night after the sudden departure of head coach Craig Berube.
Some were at the team practice Wednesday looking for signs of life from a team that recently lost four straight games.
After a ticker tape parade to wrap up the 2019 season, most Blues fans said they were ready to give Berube a key to the city.
“He was the one who brought the Cup to St. Louis,” hockey fan Drew Dempsey said. “Our very first Stanley Cup!”
“I’ve been a Blues fan my entire life, and it just meant so much to me and the city,” Kerry Jenkins said. “He’s the guy.”
Four years later, fans like Kerry Jenkins and Drew Dempsey could only sum up their emotions in one way as the Blues practiced for the first time after Berube was shown the door.
“Anger ... frustration, Jenkins said. "I just watched the game last night and thought that the Red Wings players seemed more motivated by Kelly Chase up on the big screen than the current Blues.”
“Hopefully, they have a new mindset moving forward since they fired Berube,” Dempsey said.
During his first press conference following Berube’s dismissal, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong's message was clear.
“The fans are smart,” Armstrong said. “They know when they leave the building whether they got their money’s worth. It’s not hard. We’ve got to give them their money’s worth on a more consistent effort.”
While admitting that the team has fallen flat, Jenkins and Dempsey were clear that they don’t place the blame squarely on Berube.
“I would say the team is not skill wise what it used to be,” Dempsey said.
“It’s not Berube’s fault that these guys don’t seem to care,” Jenkins said.
“My name is on everyone’s contract,” Armstrong said. “Craig’s contract, the coaches contracts, the scouts' contracts, the trainers' contracts, and the player's contracts. This is my problem.”
With that in mind, Blues fans said they’re not ready to turn the page on the 2023-24 season.
“I think that some of the young guys have really pulled the team up and we have a great future ahead of us,” Dempsey said.
“These guys come and go,” Jenkins said. “I’m Blues hardcore unless they bring back Mike Keenan to coach.”