Report: Blues hire new coach, name him as Ken Hitchcock's replacement in 2017-2018.

The St. Louis Blues have made a very interesting move, announcing their next head coach while their current head coach still currently occupies the position.

With veteran head coach Ken Hitchcock currently steering the ship the Blues have announced the hiring of Mike Yeo as an assistant coach, but an an assistant who will eventually take the reigns as the head coach. The Blues explained the move in an official press release:

The St. Louis Blues have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to what changes will be made for next season, including whether to re-sign unrestricted free agents like David Backes and Troy Brouwer - but the search to replace Associate Coach Brad Shaw and Assistant Coach Kirk Muller is over.

The team announced Monday that Mike Yeo will join the club as associate coach, while Rick Wilson will join the staff as an assistant coach. Ray Bennett (assistant coach), Jim Corsi (goalie coach) and Sean Ferrell (video coach) will also return.

Yeo will take over as the club’s head coach in 2017-18 following the departure of Ken Hitchcock, who is entering his final season behind the bench.

It will be particularly interesting to pay attention to St. Louis next season, with some major changes expected in the offseason one has to wonder what the team will look like for the 2016-2017 season, and how that could impact or accelerate Yeo's ascension to the head coaching position.

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