St. Louis Blues Announce New Additions to Coaching Staff Under Jim Montgomery – Hockey Writers – St. Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues have finalized their assistant coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, officially adding Greg Cronin, Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal, and Jeremy Coupal to Jim Montgomery’s bench. Elliott Mondou was also promoted to assistant general manager under Alexander Steen. The hire brings a combination of experience, offensive vision, and cutting-edge video expertise as the organization continues to refine its structure toward a new campaign.

The additions give the Blues a unique coaching set-up, with each new member expected to handle different responsibilities from defensive systems to forward development and match preparation. The moves also reflect a league-wide trend, of deep, diverse coaching staffs designed to support day-to-day preparation and long-term player development.

Cronin’s record behind the bench

Cronin arrives in St. Louis has the most extensive coaching background in professional hockey. His career spans nearly four decades across the NHL, American Hockey League (AHL), and NCAA, including most recent head coaching experience with the Anaheim Ducks from 2023 to 2025.

Known for his methodical approach to the game, Cronin has built a reputation for defensive commitment, detailed systems, and disciplined play off the puck. In all of his coaching stops, he has emphasized practices in areas such as coverage, penalty killing, and getting out of the defensive zone.

For the Blues, that skill set speaks to a clear area of ​​focus. The team has shown inconsistencies in their defensive game in recent seasons, especially in maintaining formation over a full 60 minutes of play. Cronin’s background suggests he will be tasked with strengthening those practices and helping to stabilize the team’s performance in its area.

In addition to his NHL experience, Cronin has also held numerous roles at the AHL and college levels, including head coaching positions at Northeastern University and the University of Maine. That range of experience gives him a solid foundation to develop from, which is especially important on a roster comprised of young players adjusting to full-time NHL roles.

Prospal’s Offensive Mind Joins Staff

Prospal joins the Blues after three seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, where he helped guide a consistent playoff team while working closely with the club’s forward team. His transition to the NHL coaching ranks comes after a long playing career that spanned more than 1,100 games.

As a player, Prospal was known for his creativity, puck control, and ability to generate offense in tight spaces. He also brought strong hockey sense and adaptability, playing both center and wing during his career while contributing to multiple roles during his NHL tenure.

Those traits are expected to translate directly to his coaching duties in St. Louis. Prospal is likely to work closely with the Blues’ forwards, focusing on offensive formation, puck movement, and finishing plays. Special attention may also be placed on the power play, an area where the Blues have searched for more consistency and creativity in recent seasons.

His presence provides a different voice behind the bench, especially for young forwards who could benefit from a coach with direct experience producing offense at the NHL level. The organization is betting on his ability to bridge that gap between the player’s emotions and structured systems.

Coupal Adds Video-Driven Expertise

Coupal’s hiring reinforces the Blues’ investment in video analysis and game preparation. With experience in both NHL and international hockey, he brings a modern approach to scouting, breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes preparation.

He has worked with the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators, two organizations known for incorporating detailed video work into their daily operations. More recently, he has been involved with Hockey Canada, gaining experience in international tournaments where quick adjustments and familiarity with opponents are important.

In St. Louis, Coupal’s role will focus on video breakdowns, finding opponents, and supporting game planning throughout the season. His work will be very important in preparing the team during the short break, as well as helping the coaches with game adjustments based on smart shifts.

As the NHL continues to evolve, video training has become an important part of competitive advantage. Teams now rely heavily on quick analytics between sessions and even between games, making Coupal’s platform a valuable addition to Montgomery’s staff.

Staff Structured in Defined Roles

Taken together, the hiring reflects a clear strategy from the Blues: build a workforce with specialized knowledge instead of overlapping responsibilities. Cronin brings structure and defensive detail, Prospal adds offensive creativity and forward development, and Coupal strengthens analytical preparation and game planning.

The combination gives Montgomery a flexible bench to work with, especially in adjusting to in-game situations and managing player development over the course of a long season. Each coach fills a specific need, allowing for highly focused instruction and clear communication with players.

As the Blues prepare for the 2026-27 season, these additions reflect an attempt to modernize the duties behind the bench while maintaining a strong knowledge base. The team’s success will ultimately be measured by how those roles translate into improved consistency and performance on the ice.