St. Louis Blues Sign Head Coach, Craig Berube to Contract Extension

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed head coach Craig Berube to a three-year contract extension. The new contract will keep Berube through 2024-2025. Berube, 56, through 44 games in 2021-2022, has guided the Blues to a record of 26-13-5 with 57 points. Berube first took over as head coach for the Blues on November 19, 2018. The Blues went 38-19-6 with 82 points the rest of the way and ended up winning their 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history, after defeating the Boston Bruins in 7 games. 

In Berube's 2nd season (2019-2020), the Blues were 42-19-10 with 94 points and won their division for their 1st time since 2014-2015. Last season, the Blues were 27-20-9 with 63 points under Berube. 

Berube is currently has coached 234 games and has a record of 133-71-30 with a .632 winning percentage. In the playoffs, Berube is 18-21 with a .462 winning percentage. Berube also currently ranks 7th games coached in franchise history, 4th in wins, and 2nd in winning percentage. 

Overall, Berube is currently in his 6th season as an NHL head coach. Berube has coached 395 games with a record of 208-129-58 with a .600 winning percentage. In the playoffs, Berube is 21-25 with a .457 winning percentage.

If all remains well, this will be Berube's 1st season in St. Louis playing a full 82-game schedule. Berube since becoming head coach with the Blues, seems to have become Phil Jackson for their franchise. The Blues did a great job to keep Berube beyond this season. 

Tampa Bay Lightning Re-sign Pat Maroon

 

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed left wing Pat Maroon to a two-year contract extension, worth $2 million. Maroon, 33, currently has played 45 games with 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points, and a plus 9 in 2021-2022. 

Maroon had his best season in 2016-2017, with the Edmonton Oilers. That season, Maroon played 81 games with 27 goals, 15 assists, 42 points, and a plus 13. The games, goals, and plus mark were all career highs for Maroon. In 2017-2018, Maroon had career highs in both assists (26) and in points (43) combined between the Oilers and New Jersey Devils. 

Maroon has won the Stanley Cup in each of the last 3 seasons. The 1st Stanley Cup was with the St. Louis Blues in 2018-2019 and then has won back-to-back with the Lightning in the last 2 seasons (2019-2020, and 2020-2021). 

Overall, Maroon is currently in his 11th NHL season. Maroon has played 613 games with 108 goals, 152 assists, 260 points, and a plus 24. In the playoffs, Maroon has played 121 games with 19 goals, 25 assists, 44 points, and a plus 3.

The Lightning did a good job to keep Maroon beyond this season. Maroon has proven to be a great leader for the Lightning and is a big reason why they've done well.

St. Louis Blues Re-sign Robert Bortuzzo

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a two-year contract extension, worth $1.9 million. Bortuzzo, 32, currently has played 37 games with 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, and a plus 4 in 2021-2022. 

Bortuzzo had his best season in 2017-2018. That season, Bortuzzo played 72 games with 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, and a plus 11. The games, goals, and points were all career highs for Bortuzzo. Bortuzzo had a career high 10 assists in 2013-2014, with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2018-2019, Bortuzzo helped the Blues win their 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history. 

Overall, Bortuzzo is currently in his 11th NHL season. Bortuzzo has played 454 games with 18 goals, 48 assists, 66 points, and a plus 38. 

The Blues did a good job keeping Bortuzzo beyond this season. He's proven to be a solid defenseman when he plays.