"The Blues were underachieving again, and when they hired the veteran, Stanley Cup-winning coach Ken Hitchcock in November it was easy to conclude two results were likely.

The accomplished strategist and fiery disciplinarian would improve St. Louis, or the players would chafe and eventually tune out the demanding 60-year-old coach, as the Blue Jackets had done with "Hitch" two years ago.

Most around the NHL, including Hitchcock's friend and colleague Mike Babcock, were betting on success. They were right.

The Blues were 6-7 when Hitchcock began. They have been 23-5-6 since."