Blues fire head coach Davis Payne

St. Louis Public Radio | By Rachel Lippmann

Published Nov. 6, 2011 at 8:19 p.m. CST

The St. Louis Blues line up for introductions on opening night, Oct. 8th. The team's general manager, Doug Armstrong, announced today that the Blues have fired head coach Davis Payne and hired Ken Hitchcock to take his place.

Updated at 11:10 p.m. to correct name and title of team general manager in caption.

The St. Louis Blues have fired head coach Davis Payne, and hired Ken Hitchcock to take his place.

Payne earned a 67-55-15 record with the Blues, but missed the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011. He was the coach of the team's minor league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, before being named the interim head coach of the Blues on January 2, 2010. The team removed the interim title on April 4, 2010.

Hitchcock, who will be 60 in December, most recently coached the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010. He won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He has agreed to a contract through next season.

The Blues are currently 6-7, and in 13th place in the Western Conference.

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