The St. Louis Blues could be close to landing a major piece for Jim Montgomery’s coaching staff. On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that former long-time NHL forward Vinny Prospal is heavily in the mix to join the Blues as an assistant coach.
"…Vinny Prospal, really good NHL player," Friedman noted. "There's talk out there he could be joining Jim Montgomery on the bench in St. Louis. They have some openings and I think he’s a contender for one of those jobs"
If the rumor materializes, it is a direct, calculated move at fixing the Blues’ biggest tactical weaknesses over the past few seasons: a stagnant power play.
Prospal, who skated in over 1,100 NHL games across 16 seasons, has spent the last three years building a stellar reputation as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. In Rochester, Prospal was given ownership of both the forward group and the power play. Under his guidance, the Amerks boasted one of the most lethal special teams units in the minors, finishing the season with the AHL’s fourth-best power play at a blazing 23.3% success rate.
Prospal has drawn rave reviews for his work behind the scenes, employing a firm but modern approach to molding high-end, young offensive talent like dynamic Sabres prospects Jiří Kulich and Konsta Helenius.
St. Louis is coming off a frustrating campaign where the man-advantage was a massive liability. The Blues finished with a dismal 26th in the NHL on the power play, converting at just a 17.6% rate. The lack of zone entries, structural movement, and finish consistently cost the team critical points in the standings.
By bringing in Prospal, Montgomery would secure a proven eye for offensive spacing and a coach who knows exactly how to get a modern power play clicking. Beyond the whiteboard, Prospal's arrival would provide a dedicated mentor for the Blues' own surging pipeline of young forwards expected to compete for full-time roles.
Nothing is official yet, but Friedman’s report indicates that discussions are well underway. As Montgomery continues to shape the identity of his bench for his second full season in St. Louis, adding a sharp, offensive mind like Prospal looks like the exact blueprint the organization needs.