Blues hire Mike Van Ryn as assistant coach; Darryl Sydor steps down

The St. Louis Blues named Mike Van Ryn as assistant coach, the team announced Wednesday.

The news comes after the Tucson Roadrunners - the American Hockey League affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes - announced earlier in the day that Van Ryn was stepping down as the club's head coach to pursue an NHL job.

With the hiring of Van Ryn, the Blues also announced that former assistant coach Darryl Sydor has stepped down to spend more time with his family.

"After almost 30 years in professional hockey, I am confident that now is the right time to step away from the game," Sydor said in a release. "Hockey has given me more than I could have ever dreamed for, but my family is the most important thing in my life, and I want to focus all of my attention on them."

Van Ryn led the Roadrunners to a Pacific Division title this season after going 42-20-6. He previously served as head coach of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League for the 2015-16 season.

The 39-year-old played 353 games in the NHL over eight seasons with the Blues, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.