Tippett joins Blues camp as guest coach

The St. Louis Blues are bringing in a little veteran experience.

Former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett will take part in Blues training camp as a guest coach, serving as a soundboard for bench boss Mike Yeo.

"He's going to come in for the first five or six days of camp and just sort of talk to Mike (Yeo) and evaluate our team, evaluate practices," general manager Doug Armstrong told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Share ideas with Mike. It's a great time because he's a really good coach and it gives Mike someone different to talk to."

While the addition is only temporary, it could serve as Tippett's first step back into the NHL. He spent the past eight seasons with Arizona but stepped away from the team in June.

Prior to joining the Coyotes, Tippett served as head coach of the Dallas Stars for six seasons, when Armstrong was at the helm of the Stars. He is also familiar with Yeo, who played under Tippett while with the Houston Aeros of the former International Hockey League.

As for Yeo, he's entering his first full season as Blues coach. He joined the club as an associate coach last year but was promoted to the top job following the firing of former bench boss Ken Hitchcock.