Jordan Kyrou is taking the plight of the Blues pretty hard.
The 25-year-old was teary-eyed on on Thursday, after fans booed him during player introductions ahead of a game against the Ottawa Senators.
“I definitely heard those,” Kyrou said. “That’s not easy, obviously, but I see where they’re coming from. It’s definitely tough. I love playing here. I love playing for these fans.
“It’s the toughest game I’ve played, to be honest,” he said. “I love playing here. It’s tough to hear the fans booing me here.”
Thursday’s game, a 4-2 win, was the team’s first since the firing of coach Craig Berube after a 13-14-1 start — followed by some regrettably viral comments made by Kyrou.
“I’ve got no comment. He’s not my coach anymore,” Kyrou said earlier in the day, while praising interim coach Brew Bannister.
His comments struck a nerve with the St. Louis fanbase, leading to the introductory boos.
“Sorry if it sounded in a bad way at all,” he said after the win. “I’m just really trying to focus on the future here and focus on what I can do to help get the wins for the boys.”
Kyrou, in his sixth NHL season, was drafted by the Blues in the second round in 2016, with Berube having coached him to a Stanley Cup title in 2018-19, their first seasons with the club.
“I obviously respect Chief,” he said. “He’s been my coach the whole time I’ve been here. I respect everything he’s done. He won a Cup, you know? I’m just trying to focus on my future and focus on what I can do to help my team win. That’s all I really meant.”
Kyrou has struggled offensively this season, scoring just five goals in 29 games a season after posting a career-high 37 tallies.
He added an assist against the Senators — and got a vote of confidence from his new coach.
“He’s an outstanding kid,” Bannister said. “He cares a lot about his teammates. He cares a lot about this organization and he cares a lot about the fan base. He’s disappointed in himself right now for his play. He is trying to find his way through what he’s doing.
“Jordan’s got to work through it. We can’t hold Jordan’s hand. Jordan’s got to dig in himself, and he’s got to find a way through this.”