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The NHL announced the divisional coaches for the All-Star Game today, and they followed the same formula as they have in the past since the current format was adopted. The coaches from the four divisional leaders are selected to guide their teams in the tournament-style play. Todd Reirden of the Metropolitan leading Capitals, Gerard Gallant of the Pacific leading Vegas Golden Knights, Bruce Cassidy of the Atlantic leading Boston Bruins, and Craig Berube of the Central leading St. Louis Blues.
This would not be the first time that Cassidy and Berube have coached against each other, but one assumes the interview-room gamesmanship that we saw during the Stanley Cup Final will be out the window during a weekend of fun.
Right?
Chief seemed happy when he was interviewed about the honor by stlouisblues.com:
“It means a lot (to be coaching in the All-Star Game),” Berube told stlouisblues.com. “But we’ve got a good team, that’s why I’m coaching. Our team has been fantastic this year, we’re in first place and that’s why I’ve been named head coach. There have been a lot of great coaches to coach the All-Star Game. This is my first, so I’m excited. It’s a great honor.”
The All-Star weekend comes at the conclusion of the Blues’ bye week for the season, January 23rd-26th. It is the first time that the Blues have hosted it since 1988’s All-Star Game, over 30 years ago.