NHL

Blues fire coach Ken Hitchcock, promote Mike Yeo

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this May 17, 2016 file photo, St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock watches during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals against the San Jose Sharks in St. Louis. The Blues have fired Hitchcock. Assistant and coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo replaced him. General manager Doug Armstrong announced the change Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this March 17, 2015 file photo, Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo argues a call in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators in Nashville, Tenn. The St. Louis Blues have fired coach Ken Hitchcock. Assistant and coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo replaced him. Yeo was supposed to succeed Hitchcock after this season, the veteran coach's final season in St. Louis. General manager Doug Armstrong announced the change Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this May 17, 2016 file photo, St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock watches during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals against the San Jose Sharks in St. Louis. The Blues have fired Hitchcock. Assistant and coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo replaced him. General manager Doug Armstrong announced the change Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

The St. Louis Blues have fired coach Ken Hitchcock.

Assistant and coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo replaced him. Yeo was supposed to succeed Hitchcock after this season, the veteran coach's final season in St. Louis.

General manager Doug Armstrong announced the change Wednesday morning. The Blues are 24-21-5 and in eighth place in the Western Conference.

Despite being in a playoff spot, St. Louis has lost five of six and went 5-8 in January. The Blues lost at home to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.

The 65-year-old Hitchcock was in his sixth season as Blues coach. They made the playoffs in each of his five seasons and reached the Western Conference final last spring.

Hitchcock has coached 20 NHL seasons and won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.