The St. Louis Blues have locked in Steve Ott for another two years, confirming his continued leadership of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the team’s AHL affiliate.
Ott assumed the Thunderbirds’ helm on Jan. 19, 2026 and guided them to a 19‑13‑2‑0 record that earned a Calder Cup Playoff berth, while also steering the club to the Atlantic Division finals.
The run included a stunning comeback against Charlotte in the first round and a division‑semifinal victory over Providence, a team that had finished 38 points ahead in the regular season, marking one of the largest upsets in AHL history.
A legacy in the making
Ott’s appointment follows a seven‑year stint as an assistant with the Blues, a period that culminated in five postseason appearances and the 2019 Stanley Cup championship. Before turning to coaching, he retired from a 15‑year professional playing career that comprised 848 NHL games and 110 AHL contests.