Blues add Conklin as development coach

The St. Louis Blues announced Friday they have hired longtime NHL goaltender Ty Conklin to be a goaltending development coach. The 37-year-old played in 215 NHL games and will be tasked with working to develop goaltenders from the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Chicago, as well as other goalies in the team's system.

The Anchorage, Alaska native played 10 seasons in the NHL, including two with the Blues, posting a 96-67-17 career record with four ties, a 2.69 goals-against average and .906 save percentage and 17 shutouts. After going undrafted, Conklin starred at the University of New Hampshire before breaking into the League with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2001-02 season.

It was for the Oilers that Conklin played against the Montreal Canadiens in the first Heritage Classic, which was staged at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in 2003. Five years later, Conklin again played in an iconic outdoor game when he started in goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first NHL Winter Classic, at Ralph Wilson Stadium against the Buffalo Sabres. Conklin also played in the following season's Winter Classic for the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, earning the distinction of being the only player to appear in the NHL's first three outdoor regular-season games.

Conklin also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sabres and Detroit Red Wings before sitting out last season as a free agent. He last saw NHL action with the Red Wings during the 2011-12 season.