A change in management for the St. Louis Blues will occur at the end of this season. General manager Doug Armstrong is expected to hand over the reins to Alexander Steen, but he’ll remain as team president for three more years.
Armstrong has been the Blues’ general manager since 2010, making him the longest-tenured active NHL GM. Over that period, he garnered a well-earned reputation as one of the savviest executives in the league. From 2010-11 to 2021-22, they reached the playoffs 10 times, winning their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2018-19.
Since that championship season, the Blues have been in decline. They made the playoffs in four of the last six years, advancing to the second round once. They’re currently in danger of missing the postseason for the third time in four years.
During that stretch, the Blues parted ways with core players such as Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and David Perron. Armstrong has attempted to retool the roster with younger players like Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Philip Broberg.
However, the Blues are currently near the bottom of the NHL standings. Die-hard fans will point to the club being in a similar position midway through 2018-19 before rallying and winning the Cup, as well as their successful stretch run last season. However, another rally seems unlikely this season.
A change in management is coming at the right time. The Blues have an expensive core of underachieving talent, including Thomas and Kyrou. They’re the lowest-scoring team, their defense is porous, and their special teams are among the league’s worst.