Steve Ott Appointed Head Coach of Springfield Thunderbirds

The St. Louis Blues have announced that Steve Ott will take over as the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, for the remainder of the season. This decision follows the dismissal of Steve Konowalchuk, who served as head coach for two seasons, compiling a record of 47 wins, 50 losses, and 12 overtime losses. The Thunderbirds are currently struggling, sitting last in the Atlantic Division with a record of 13-18-4-2 and on a four-game losing streak.

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Steve Ott, 42, has been part of the Blues coaching staff since 2017, contributing to a regular-season record of 350-244-74 and four playoff appearances, including the team's 2019 Stanley Cup victory. Before transitioning to coaching, Ott had a 15-year NHL playing career, during which he played for the Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens, accumulating 288 points in 848 games.

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Chad Wiseman, the current assistant coach, will serve as the interim head coach for the Thunderbirds' upcoming game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins until Ott officially joins the team later this week. Ott's first game is anticipated to be against the Toronto Marlies on Friday.

Steve Ott Takes Over as T-Birds Head Coach

Doug Armstrong, the Blues' President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, expressed gratitude towards Konowalchuk for his contributions and emphasized the organization's expectations for Ott. Armstrong stated, “We’re looking forward to Steve Ott taking over in Springfield to push our young players to get better every day and further their development path to become St. Louis Blues.”

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While the decision to replace Konowalchuk has been framed positively by the Blues' management, some observers may question the timing and rationale behind the coaching change, especially given that the Thunderbirds had made the playoffs last season. The team's current struggles may reflect broader issues beyond coaching, including player performance and injuries.

Steve Ott Takes Over as T-Birds Head Coach

As Ott prepares to take the helm, the Thunderbirds will look to reverse their fortunes and improve their standings in the Atlantic Division. The upcoming games will be crucial for assessing the impact of Ott's leadership on the team's performance.

AHL: Blues’ Name Steve Ott Springfield’s Head Coach

• “The Blues want to thank Steve Konowalchuk for his contributions to our organization over the last two years and wish him all the best moving forward,” — Doug Armstrong, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager

Steve Ott Takes Over as T-Birds Head Coach

• “We’re looking forward to Steve Ott taking over in Springfield to push our young players to get better every day and further their development path to become St. Louis Blues. The current staff will take over his duties with the Blues for the rest of this season.” — Doug Armstrong, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager

Steve Ott Takes Over as T-Birds Head Coach