The Blues have signed Craig Berube to a three-year contract, officially removing the interim tag from the coach who led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship after taking over for Mike Yeo on Nov. 19.

Contract terms weren't immediately available.

That Berube would stay became all but official at the start of the Western Conference Final against San Jose when general manager Doug Armstrong told reporters that he had a "candidate list of one" and that the one candidate was Berube.

Under Berube, the Blues became champions of the team game, accepting their roles and playing for each other. And then became champions of the NHL.

"Craig made an enormous impact on our team when he took over last November," Armstrong said in a statement. "He restored our identity and provided our players with a clear sense of direction and purpose.

"The chemistry and trust that he developed with our players was integral in bringing our franchise the 2019 Stanley Cup."

Players liked Berube's direct approach, even it meant sometimes hearing criticism of their play. And reflecting his personality, they became a hard-working, mentally tough, relentless team.