St. Louis Blues' Craig Berube says racist comments directed at Colorado Avalanche's Nazem Kadri are 'in no way acceptable'

St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube, after originally declining to comment on the matter, on Wednesday said the racist comments and threats directed at Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri are «in no way acceptable.»

«I just want to comment on my 'no comment' the other day,» Berube said before Game 5 on Wednesday in Denver. «I'm not on social media. I was aware of a threat made to Nazem. Not the racist stuff. In no way is it acceptable by the St. Louis Blues or anybody else for him to have to go through that.»

Kadri, who is a Muslim of Lebanese descent, was the subject of racist comments and threats following his collision with Blues goalie Jordan Binnington in Game 3 of their second-round series. Binnington, who had been outstanding in five postseason games, suffered a lower-body injury in a collision with Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosen and has been ruled out for the rest of the series.

Local law enforcement was called in to investigate threats made toward Kadri on social media, and there was increased police presence both at the Avalanche's team hotel in St. Louis and around the players' entrance to the ice at Enterprise Center in Game 4.

Kadri wasn't called for a penalty on the play that resulted in Binnington being injured, and the NHL Department of Player Safety determined there was no supplemental discipline necessary. Berube, however, questioned Kadri's role in the injury.

«Look at Kadri's reputation. That's all I've got to say,» he said of Kadri, who has multiple postseason suspensions, including an eight-game ban for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk in the 2021 playoffs.

With Ville Husso in net for St. Louis, the Avalanche won Games 3 and 4 to take a 3-1 series lead, with