The St. Louis Blues have added a respected hockey figure to their front office by hiring Hall of Fame defenseman Sergei Zubov as an advisor to hockey operations.

The move gives general manager Alexander Steen’s hockey operations group another experienced voice as the team continues to improve its organizational structure. Zubov’s return to St. Louis brings him back to an organization he previously worked with as a consultant during the 2012-13 season.

According to the St. Louis Blues press release, as reported by NHL Media, general manager Alexander Steen praised Zubov’s impressive hockey background and the value he will bring in his new role.

"We are excited to bring in Sergei with the incredible resume he built over his Hall of Fame career as a player," Steen said via NHL.com. "As a coach, he brings a unique skillset and experience that will be a valuable asset throughout our hockey operations group."

The former NHL defenseman brings years of experience as a player, coach, and hockey executive, providing the Blues with another valuable perspective on player evaluation and team development.

The 56-year-old Zubov has stayed connected to hockey since retiring as a player in 2010. He worked as an assistant coach with several KHL teams from 2011 to 2015 before becoming the head coach of SKA Saint Petersburg in the 2015-16 season.

His coaching career also included head coaching positions with HK Sochi, Dinamo Riga, and the Russian U-20 national team.

Sergei Zubov brings Stanley Cup experience and NHL front office knowledge

The Blues are bringing in someone with a lot of NHL experience as both a player and a hockey executive. Zubov played 1,068 regular-season games during his 16-year NHL career with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Dallas Stars. He won Stanley Cups with the Rangers in 1994 and the Stars in 1999.

Zubov later joined the Dallas Stars as a senior consultant to hockey operations in 2019, the same year he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Zubov’s knowledge of player development and team decisions could help St. Louis as the organization evaluates its roster and plans.

The team has made a flurry of changes to its roster before the 2025-26 season, including the exits of veterans Jordan Kyrou, Justin Faulk, and Brayden Schenn, and has brought in the young guns. The Blues now have 17 first-round picks in its squad, and only seven players aged 30 or above.

What do you think? Will Sergei Zubov’s experience help St. Louis take the next step in its hockey operations strategy? Let us know in the comments. 

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Yash Kotak