MONTREAL - Kirk Muller is returning to the Montreal Canadiens as an associate coach.
The former Canadiens captain, who was an assistant coach in Montreal from 2006 to 2011, will rejoin the Canadiens staff under head coach Michel Therrien, the NHL club announced Thursday.
The Kingston, Ont., native informed the St. Louis Blues this week that he would leave that club after two seasons as an assistant under Ken Hitchcock. The Blues had reportedly offered their entire staff contract extensions.
The 50-year-old Muller was particularly strong in handling special teams when he was with the Canadiens, an area where the team has struggled in recent years.