Report: After losing out on Babcock, team will retain their unpopular coach.

Despite their best efforts the St. Louis Blues failed to sway coveted head coach Mike Babcock to their side. As a result, the Blues will see a familiar face behind the bench, despite what the players think. Elliotte Friedman reported on Sportsnet's Saturday Headlines segment that the Blues will retain the services of current head coach Ken Hitchcock, despite rumors of his discontent among the player on his squad. It was only two weeks ago that team Owner Tom Stillman addressed the discontent in the locker room. “I know there is a lot of speculation about that,” he told the Post-Dispatch. “I would also point out if you named the top 10 coaches in the NHL over the last decade, in virtually every case you would find the players can’t stand him. They hate him. That’s just the way it is. I kind of discount that kind of stuff. That goes for those (coaches) who are seen as the best now, the best ever and those who have recently won Stanley Cups. Almost to a man, the players can’t stand him. I don’t know how much stock I would put in that kind of a thing.” Although his players don't like it, he's not about to throw his coach under the bus for that alone. The Blues have advanced to the postseason in four consecutive seasons under Hitchcock's watch, but haven't won a series with him at the helm since 2012. They have a 6-16 record in the playoffs since that five-game triumph over the San Jose Sharks, their most recent disappointment at the hands of the Minnesota Wild. Hitchcock, though, will require a new contract. His current agreement expires June 30.