The St. Louis Blues made a significant organizational move on Monday, announcing that longtime assistant coach Steve Ott will take over as head coach of the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds for the remainder of the season. Ott replaces Steve Konowalchuk, who was relieved of his duties after parts of two seasons behind the bench. Assistant coach Chad Wiseman will guide Springfield on an interim basis for Monday’s game against Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton, with Ott expected to join the team later this week.
Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong framed the decision as a development‑focused pivot.
“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,” Armstrong said. “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.”
A Springfield Team Searching for Answers
The timing of the move shows the urgency in Springfield. Ahead of Monday’s game, the Thunderbirds sat 29th of 32 AHL teams, holding just 32 points with a 98–136 goal differential. Despite strong special teams rankings with the 13th‑ranked power play (20.0%) and the second‑best penalty kill in the league (84.3%), the team has struggled to generate consistent five‑on‑five offense or protect the middle of the ice.
The disconnect between special‑teams success and overall results has been a defining theme of the season. Springfield has been unable to string together momentum, and the defensive‑zone structure has broken down far too often for a club tasked with developing NHL‑bound talent.
Ott’s arrival is a reset in identity, habits, and accountability.
Why Ott’s Arrival Matters
Beyond the standings, the most pressing reason for the coaching change is the state of Springfield’s prospect group. Several key Blues hopefuls are logging heavy minutes, producing in flashes, but struggling to find consistency inside a team environment that has lacked structure and stability.
Juraj Pekarčík, one of the organization’s most important young forwards, sits third on the team in scoring with 17 points (5G, 12A) in 35 games, but carries a –10 rating. His playmaking touch is evident, yet the defensive details remain uneven. This is exactly the type of developmental area Ott has historically reinforced.
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki has shown scoring pop with 9 goals and 16 points in 29 games, but his –12 rating shows the broader issues in transition and defensive‑zone coverage. His game thrives on pace and assertiveness, two traits Ott consistently demands.
Dylan Peterson has delivered a solid two‑way season with 7 goals and 15 points, but he too sits at –10.
Jakub Stancl (6 goals, 10 points, –6) and Theo Lindstein (2 goals, 8 points, –23) round out a young core that has talent but needs firmer guidance. Lindstein’s rating, in particular, show how often Springfield has been pinned in its own zone, a problem that can be mitigated with clearer structure, cleaner breakouts, and more predictable support routes.
In net, Vadim Zherenko has battled through one of the heaviest workloads in the AHL. His 3.19 GAA and .899 save percentage come with 635 shots faced, the fifth‑highest total in the league. The volume alone speaks to Springfield’s defensive issues, and stabilizing the environment in front of him will be one of Ott’s immediate priorities.
This is the heart of the move: the Blues need their prospects developing, not surviving.
Ott’s Track Record and Why the Blues Chose Him
Ott, 42, has spent nine seasons behind the Blues’ bench since joining the staff in 2017. During that span, St. Louis has posted a 350‑244‑74 (.579) regular‑season record, reached the postseason four times, and captured the 2019 Stanley Cup where Ott played a key role in the team’s dramatic midseason turnaround.
Inside the organization, Ott is widely viewed as a future NHL head coach. Blues head coach Jim Montgomery reinforced that belief on Monday.
“He’s an extremely talented coach. Players love him, staff loves him,” Montgomery said. “You have to have head‑coaching experience to be able to get a head‑coaching job in the NHL… this is the opportunity he’s going to get — go down to Springfield and work in the second‑best league in the world.”
Ripple Effects in St. Louis: Montgomery Takes Over the Power Play
Ott’s reassignment also forces a notable shift in St. Louis. One of his primary responsibilities was running the power play, and with his move to Springfield, Montgomery confirmed he will take over the unit himself. The Blues’ power play currently ranks 25th in the NHL at 16.3%, and Montgomery emphasized that the group needs sharper habits and more urgency.
“Execution and urgency — that would be the two things,” Montgomery said. “I always felt Steve Ott had a great game plan… he always had an answer for how we’re going to make it work.”
A Reset With Development at the Center
For the Blues, this move is about more than salvaging a season. It’s about reestablishing a development environment that accelerates young players rather than stalls them. Springfield’s roster includes several prospects the organization views as future NHL contributors, and the Blues believe Ott’s voice, detail, and competitive edge can help restore direction.
It’s a midseason shake‑up with clear intent: stabilize Springfield, sharpen the pipeline, and give a rising coach the chance to lead.
Quotes gathered from St. Louis Blues and Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic