Blues GM Armstrong says coaching search a 'list of one'

It sounds likely that St. Louis Blues interim head coach Craig Berube will be assuming his duties on a permanent basis next season.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Friday that his search for a future head coach is down to “a list of one.”

"When we asked Craig to take over the team, we were in flux at that point," Armstrong said, according to the St.Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas. "I said to Craig: 'You take over on the interim basis and we'll go from there.'

"And as I started to work with Craig, whatever name was on the (candidate) list started to get crossed off and crossed off ... then I found the synergy that Craig and I have had. Now we're at a list of one."

Berube was nominated for the 2019 Jack Adams Award after orchestrating one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in NHL history. Under Berube, the Blues became the first team in the NHL expansion era (since 1967-68) to win a playoff series after ranking last at any point after New Year's Day (minimum 20 games played), per NHL Public Relations.