Jamie Langenbrunner discusses the St. Louis Blues massive turnaround
From left to right, Carlo Colaiacovo (28), Jason Arnott (44), Alex Pietrangelo (27) and Jamie Langenbrunner (15) of the St. Louis Blues celebrate a goal with teammates against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center earlier this season. (Getty) The werent content with mediocre hockey.After starting the season 6-7, general manager Doug Armstrong made a quick and decisive move on November 7 to replace coach Davis Payne and bring in Ken Hitchcock, who previously had a relationship with Armstrong in Dallas when Hitchcock led the Stars to the 1999 Stanley Derrick White Jersey Cup Championship, with Armstrong serving as an a sistant general manager on that team.At that point in the season, goaltender was struggling with a 1-6 record and a 3.35 goals-against average. His save percentage screamed bench me, please sitting at .856.Fast forward to the last week of the regular season and hiring Hitchcock seems like the best move of the 2011-2012 NHL Fabricio Oberto Jersey Season.The Blues have already clinched the Central division championship and sit with 106 points entering Wednesday nights game against the Detroit Red Wings. St. Louis still has a chance to win the Presidents Trophy for finishing with the most points in the league and sits three points behind Vancouver in that race. Eye on Hockey recently talked with Blues right winger , who was also on the 1999 Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars team, and also won another cup with the New Jersey Devils, about the Blues turnaround and playing under Hitchcock. Hes played in more than 1,000 NHL games and is one of the top 30 american born scorers in NHL history.Eye on Hockey: What was your initial reaction when you found out Davis Payne was fired and that Ken Hitchcock would be the new coach?Langenbrunner: Dennis Rodman Jersey I was a little shocked. We were right around .500 at the time and anytime you have a coach get replaced its a bit of a shock. I felt excitement because I knew what he could bring. I enjoyed playing for him in Dallas. Eye on Hockey: What changed in St. Louis to produce this turnaround?Langenbrunner: I think he really tried to simplify what we were trying to do at the beginning of the season and he started to push the right buttons. We needed to play as a team and he gave us that confidence and thats a winning combination, and it snowballed from there.Eye on Hockey: How has Hitchcock changed his coaching style from Dallas to St. Louis?Langenbrunner: In Dallas, the NHL was a bit different and more clutch and grab. You had big, strong defensemen and we played with a very defensive mind. Our defensemen are up in the play all the time now and are a part of the attack. Being a smart coach, he adapts his system to the team that he has. His me sage is still very similar on the compete level and he just wants us to play within our system.Eye on Hockey: The Blues still have a Drew Eubanks Jersey chance to win the Presidents Trophy. Is that something thats discu sed in the locker room? Is there a taboo attached to winning it? Langenbrunner: I think it’s something we know is there for us. Our focus all year is that were playing well and well get wins and have a chance. I dont think there is any team that goes into the season with that goal…if you end up with it, thats great. Its not something you focus in on.We expected Tony Parker Jersey to be there at the beginning of the year. Our focus is to be an elite team…the challenge now is just to stay there.Eye on Hockey: How tough is the Central division this season?Langenbrunner: Theres definitely no off nights. Theres 4 teams that can get over 100 points, which is pretty amazing. The whole western conference is tough. I think it pushes everybody.
