NHL notebook: Blues remove Berube's interim tag with deal

[June 26, 2019]  Craig Berube, who led the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup as an interim head coach, signed a three-year contract Tuesday to stay with the team.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Berube took over after Mike Yeo was fired on Nov. 19. In early January, the Blues had the worst record in the NHL before ripping off a 30-10-5 run the rest of the way in the regular season. St. Louis capped its playoff run with a victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, giving the Blues the first championship of their 52-year history.

"This is a proud day for me and my family," Berube said, according to NHL.com. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for this team and this organization and the city of St. Louis has embraced me as one of their own. This past season was the experience of a lifetime and I'm anxious to get started on our title defense."

--The Arizona Coyotes acquired center Carl Soderberg from the Colorado Avalanche, receiving defenseman Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round draft choice in return.
 

"Carl is a versatile, 200-foot player who has a history of being productive and playing tough minutes," said John Chayka, Arizona's general manager and president of hockey operations. "He will be a stabilizer in our lineup and gives our coaching staff lots of flexibility."

Soderberg, 33, played 82 games with Colorado in 2018-19, scoring 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists). His 23 goals were a career high.

--Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik retired from the NHL after 15 seasons.

Blues head coach Craig Berube hoists the Stanley Cup during the Stanley Cup championship parade and rally at the Gateway Arch. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

"I've been extremely lucky to have the best job in the world for many years, but my body is telling me it is time to move on to something new," Orpik said in a statement issued by the Capitals. "I'm excited for more family time and to experience a lot of the things that being a professional athlete forces you to miss out on. Thank you to the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins for giving me the opportunity to play against the best athletes in the world. I'll be forever grateful for the memories and relationships that hockey has given me."

Orpik, 38, played 1,035 career games. Drafted 18th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft by the Penguins, he finished his college career the next season with a national championship at Boston College.

--Former Canadian women's star Hayley Wickenheiser headlines the six-player class chosen to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Former NHL players Guy Carbonnneau, Sergei Zubov and Vaclav Nedomansky also were selected. Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and Boston College coach Jerry York were chosen under the builders category.

The six will be inducted in Toronto on Nov. 18.

--Field Level Media

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