Latest news with #DougArmstrong
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Blues offseason needs: How St. Louis measures up to NHL's conference finalists
ST. LOUIS — The Stanley Cup Final got underway with Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Assessing the play of the two teams to this point in the playoffs, it's clear the St. Louis Blues have work ahead of them to get back to that level. How much work? Well, not as much as it appeared before the Blues ended their two-year playoff drought in May and nearly upset the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. If not for two six-on-five goals against in the final two minutes of regulation, letting a 3-1 lead turn into a 4-3 double-overtime loss, the Blues would have gone to the Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Stars — and who knows? Perhaps another surprise was in store. Advertisement But none of that happened, and regardless of how it all went down, general manager Doug Armstrong is back to reconfiguring the roster for the 2025-26 season. 'As a (general) manager, my job is to look at things from 30,000 feet — not one game, one shift, one two-minute segment,' Armstrong said last month. 'I have to look at the year in its totality.' In totality, a 96-point season in which the Blues finished 14th in the final NHL standings isn't too shabby. How do they go up from here, however? It may be unfair to compare the club to Florida and Edmonton, but if Armstrong and GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen want to get back to that level, that's where they have to set their sights. So with that, let's use Dom Luszczyszyn's Net Rating model to compare the state of the Blues' roster to the average roster of the NHL's four conference finalists: Florida, Edmonton, Dallas and Carolina. The Net Rating model has a long track record of demonstrating predictive value, and even though it's imperfect, there's some reliability in how it can put into perspective which individual players are contributing to the team's success from an offensive and defensive standpoint. We will project the Blues' lineup for the 2025-26 season — excluding unrestricted free agents Radek Faksa and Ryan Suter — and contrast it with one combining the ratings for the Panthers, Oilers, Stars and Hurricanes for an 'average conference finalist' team. Sure, it's a bit skewed when you consider Edmonton has two all-world players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But in order to compete, the Blues will need to add similar stars or get more out of their talent. Here's how they stack up: It's no surprise that the Blues' offensive net rating falls well short of the final four teams. In addition to McDavid and Draisaitl, Florida's lineup boasts Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, and there are yet more point-producers on the Dallas and Carolina rosters. But a rating of 42.5 for the conference finalists compared to 3.2 for the Blues is fairly significant, and the difference is glaring at both forward (29.2 to 6.5) and defense (13.2 to minus-3.3). Advertisement Center Robert Thomas, the Blues' No. 1 forward, measures up well with a net rating of 10.3, but as the model illustrates, the team is missing another top forward. Pavel Buchnevich is next in line (7.6), and that's short of what all three top-line forwards are producing for the conference finalists. The other takeaway with regard to the offensive net rating is the lack of production from a No. 1 defenseman. For the Blues, that's Colton Parayko, and while he had a career year with 16 goals and 36 points, his 0.8 rating doesn't stack up to the average of the other four teams (7.1). Even Cam Fowler (1.6) and Philip Broberg (1.7), who are considered Nos. 2-3 defensemen by the Blues, come in below what the other four are receiving from their top pair and even top four. Defensively, however, the Blues perform better than the conference finalists (23.6 to 18.5), and that's both at forward (8.0 to 6.4) and defense (5.4 to 4.2). The forward with the best rating is Dylan Holloway (3.4), which is not far behind the top average forward of the conference finalists (3.7). The defenseman with the best rating is Parayko (4.7), which is higher than the average of the other four teams (3.2). In fact, Broberg (3.3) gives the club two defensemen with a higher rating than the other four. Finally, in the goaltending department, Blues fans may not be surprised to know that Jordan Binnington has a better net rating (10.2) than the average of the other four netminders (7.9). So, what specifically do the Blues need to add this offseason? At his postseason news conference, Armstrong acknowledged that the Blues have interest in acquiring 'a 200-foot offensive player.' That's someone who can provide points, of course, but also play the full length of the ice. In The Athletic's NHL free-agent big board, there are some big-game options such as the Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner and Florida's Sam Bennett, but it seems unlikely the Blues will be engaging in a bidding war for either of those two, and even if they did, would there be mutual interest? Advertisement If Armstrong is unable to add a high-end player, the Blues will need Thomas to stay healthy and produce like he did in the second half of the season, as well as count on even more from Jordan Kyrou and Holloway. There has to be some level of 'elite growth' with the current group, which may come from newcomer Jimmy Snuggerud, who showed a lot of promise after joining the club late last season. The specific need for the Blues is at center, where they have Thomas as their No. 1, Brayden Schenn (1.7 net rating) as No. 2 and Oskar Sundqvist (minus-5.0) as No. 3. If the Blues can find a top-six center in free agency or via trade, they could push Schenn down to the third line. If they can find a top-nine center, they could replace Sundqvist on the third line. Some might say that prospect Dalibor Dvorsky could ease into Sundqvist's spot, but the Blues don't seem committed to that idea yet. Other center options in free agency, if unsigned by their current club, include John Tavares, Mikael Granlund and Pius Suter. In the trade market, the Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi, the Boston Bruins' Pavel Zacha and Toronto's David Kämpf could be available. Zack Bolduc is expected to be one of the wingers on the third line, which is deserved considering the step he took last season. Mathieu Joseph and Alexandre Texier each have one more season left on their contracts, but it would behoove the Blues if the team could find upgrades for those two. Meanwhile, the Blues' fourth line has a bit of an offensive deficiency compared to its counterparts in the conference finals. Two returning players from that line, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker, had net ratings lower than the average of the other individuals on the fourth line. But despite the lack of production, the Blues won't be too disappointed if that group, including Faksa, stays together. It didn't go unnoticed that Armstrong said the Blues' top-four defense was shored up 'for now' at his postseason news conference. That foursome features Parayko (who has four more seasons left on his contract), Justin Faulk (two years left) and Fowler and Broberg, who are both entering the final year of their deals. Broberg will be a restricted free agent, if unsigned, so the Blues will still hold his rights. Advertisement The model shows that the Blues are lacking legitimate offense from a No. 1 defenseman compared to the conference finalists. The fact is, however, that Parayko isn't going anywhere. So while the takeaway from his low offensive rating is that he needs to produce at a higher level, he's contributing in that area and doing more than enough defensively. Fowler proved to be quite a find, especially offensively, but he'll turn 34 years old in December, and asking for more growth from him seems unlikely. Therefore, the player who could offer that potential is Broberg, who got off to a hot start last season but cooled off after his injuries. If his net rating could climb closer to that of the conference finalists, that could offset some of the shortcomings with Parayko. But while the Blues appear to be set with their top four for the 2025-26 season, there's nothing wrong with looking at options, particularly if there's a team willing to take on the remainder of Faulk's contract ($6.5 million AAV). His net defensive rating (1.5) isn't glaring, but his offensive rating (0.1) is well off the mark of what the average top-four defensemen with the conference finalists are producing. In free agency, Florida's Aaron Ekblad is the player teams will covet if he's available, but he'll come at a steep price. But even if the Blues are aiming lower, they're not going to add a top-four defenseman via free agency if they can't move Faulk. So if anything happens, perhaps a trade makes more sense, and if so, Buffalo's Bowen Byram, Calgary's Rasmus Andersson and Chicago's Connor Murphy are targets. But then it begs the question of whether the Blues are improving by shuffling the deck. Tyler Tucker, while improving his offensive numbers on the third pair this season, still falls short (-5.0 net rating) of what the other four teams are getting from their depth defensemen. But the Blues don't view Tucker as an issue, nor should they, because of the valued offensive traits he displayed last season along with the physicality he brings. If anything, the Blues would entertain the idea of trading Nick Leddy, whose net ratings are better than Tucker's, if they could find a suitor for the final year of his deal. But they'd need a veteran presence in that pairing, especially if they're not re-signing Suter, and if not Leddy, then who? Lots of questions to answer in the coming weeks. (Top photo of Philip Broberg and Connor McDavid: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
New York Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Would Blues let Doug Armstrong go to Maple Leafs? Coaching staff changes? Mailbag, Part 2
ST. LOUIS — When the Florida Panthers were waxing the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round series, I knew I'd soon be addressing one commonly asked question regarding the St. Louis Blues. In 2023, Toronto fired general manager Kyle Dubas, and many Blues fans wondered whether GM Doug Armstrong would have some interest. I addressed it back then, and the feeling I had was that though it made sense for the Maple Leafs, it didn't for the Blues. Advertisement Now, the Leafs are at a crossroads again after parting ways with team president Brendan Shanahan on Thursday, and even before that, the Blues mailbag was filling up with questions about Armstrong. So let's start there in Part 2 of the mailbag, following Part 1 earlier this week. (Note: Some questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.) With Toronto's recent collapse, could Armstrong be enticed to leave the Blues for Toronto? — Patrick H. The situation is no different this time. Armstrong is under contract, and the Blues have no interest in his leaving. When this popped up in 2023, Armstrong's contract as the president of hockey operations and GM ran through 2025-26. In July, he agreed to a three-year extension under which he'll fulfill the final year of the deal as GM before handing over the reins to Alexander Steen. After that, he'll hold the title of team president through the 2028-29 season. So even if Armstrong wanted to go to Toronto, it's moot because, as I wrote last time, the Blues are going to want him around to guide Steen into the next era. That's likely why there was a lot less circulation of Armstrong's name when speculation began to rise about finding Shanahan's replacement. The situation in Toronto is a little different this time, too, because the Leafs have a GM in Brad Treliving. And Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment boss Keith Pelley said Friday that Shanahan isn't being replaced for now anyway. The president position is one Armstrong would have been well suited for had things been different. But he was aware of Shanahan's uncertain status in Toronto, so if he had any interest in the role, he wouldn't have agreed to the extension with the Blues. Either way, Blues fans don't need to be concerned about it — for now. What are the chances Armstrong moves on from St. Louis after the 2025-26 season? I know he will have three years left on his contract as president, but would he listen outside of St. Louis? — Bruce S. The reason I wrote 'for now' in my last response is there's a chance Armstrong could leave at some point during the three-year portion of his contract when he's the president and Steen the GM. Advertisement That's not based on any conversations with anyone. It's based on the fact Armstrong is still just 60 years old, and when he announced the succession plan with Steen, he pointed out he still loves the job and could do it for 'another 10 years.' Lou Lamoriello, recently fired by the New York Islanders, is 82. David Poile retired two years ago at age 73. Perhaps Armstrong is different. Perhaps he will give way to Steen, sign another extension in 2029 and sit in the management perch alongside Steen for years to come. But after replacing Larry Pleau in St. Louis in 2010, he might be looking for a new challenge after what would be nearly two decades with the Blues. With a full offseason, what is the likelihood of Jim Montgomery making changes to the coaching staff? Or any chance one of them decides to leave? — Shawn B. This is going to take a little more time to shake out. The Blues aren't necessarily looking to make any changes, but there could be other opportunities for some of the staff. We'll probably have a better handle on the situation a few weeks after the Stanley Cup Final. At the year-end press conference, the Blues referenced how they transitioned from playing as individuals to playing as one unit, implying there were individuals who needed to be brought along. Can you at least give us a glimpse into what was happening? — Adam S. I noticed that, too, particularly the comment from Pavel Buchnevich. For those who missed it, he was asked about the Blues' culture coming back in the second half of the season and said, 'We go back to playing as a team, not like as player by player, but as a team.' At the start of the season, the atmosphere around the team was a lot better than in years past. The players had a positive outlook on the season and genuinely enjoyed being around each other. But the results weren't coming, there was the coaching change, and even under Montgomery, they still went through a stretch when it wasn't getting any better. Advertisement There weren't personality conflicts. They were all dealing with the struggle, and when they got back from the 4 Nations break, they collectively hit the reset button. The team was the priority, their success reinforced that, and that's the togetherness Buchnevich was referring to. One thing I haven't seen discussed about Winnipeg's tying goal was Justin Faulk being on the ice. You can see Cam Fowler leaving the ice before the puck enters the zone and Faulk takes his place. Colton Parayko was already on the ice, giving them two right-handed defensemen. Who sent Faulk on the ice? — Michael P. This is a great question, and I have the answer, which will be interesting for everyone. When Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers lost the handle on the puck at the point with the Winnipeg Jets trailing 3-2 and 30 seconds remaining in regulation, the Jets regrouped in the neutral zone and got ready to re-enter their offensive zone. That's when Fowler called for a change, and as you mention, Faulk (a righty) jumped on the ice for him instead of Philip Broberg (a lefty). The reason is that when the Blues are five-on-six and their left D is closest to the bench, the team wants the right D who's up next (Faulk in this case) to come on for him (Fowler in this case) and then eventually slide over when Parayko changes and the new left D (Broberg) comes on. That's done so that Faulk isn't changing for Parayko, as they'd normally do, and the right side of the ice is left vacant against the extra attacker. The other reason the Blues do it this way is that they want to make sure two D-men aren't jumping over the boards for one and the team gets whistled for too many men. But the answer as to why it was Faulk, and not Broberg, is that they bring the right D on first and he slides over. In this situation, it turned catastrophic when Faulk couldn't clear the puck on a backhand and Parayko couldn't either on a rim shot from behind the net, and the Jets scored to tie it at 3 in the final seconds. Speaking of the Winnipeg game, I'm wondering if you had your story mostly written before the Jets' miracle comeback? — Jeff N. I didn't have it mostly written. I had it all written. I also booked my flight to Dallas with four minutes left in regulation. I know, I know, blame me. Advertisement Have you heard anything about new uniforms for next season? — Tom W. There's been lots of chatter about this on social media, and here's what I can tell you: This is the second year of a uniform deal with Fanatics, so I would not be surprised if we see a bit of a refresh or rebrand for the 2025-26 season. The Blues haven't announced/confirmed anything yet, but it sure seems like we'll hear some news on that this summer. compare the current Blue Note to the apparent new version — along with the current alternate/retro design and the one used as a shoulder patch on this year's WC jersey. subtle differences, but noteworthy. — icethetics (@icethetics) May 9, 2025 I've heard that they will be going to a more-throwback home and an away that is like the 2017 and 2022 Winter Classic jerseys. Have you heard anything like that? — Cory S. If I had to guess, we're going to see something Winter Classic-related. Those have been popular, and in the conversations I've had with Blues staff in charge of the designs, they really do take fan feedback and interest to heart. It bugs me that home teams wear the colored uniforms in the NHL. What are your thoughts on switching back to white at home and color on the road? — David L. I was born in 1975, and the NHL wore whites at home from 1970 to 2003, so that's what I prefer. There are a lot of beliefs as to why the league switched. I've heard the colored jerseys sell better, so they wanted teams to wear them at home in front of their fans. To my knowledge, there's no chatter about going back. Did you ever find out who was behind the whole 'Jobu' thing? Who brought him into the locker room? — Edie R. I'll tell you if you send me some rum. I would love to see quotes/interviews from players who were involved in classic games: the St. Patty's Day Massacre, the San Jose hand-pass game or the Flyers game when the players were in the stands. Could you write those? — Michael H. Since I joined The Athletic in 2017, I've wanted to write about the St. Patrick's Day Massacre between the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks on March 17, 1991. For younger fans who might be unfamiliar with that day, there were a combined 278 penalty minutes, 12 major penalties, 17 misconducts and 12 ejections. Next March would be the 35th anniversary, so that would be a good opportunity to go back and interview those involved, right? What are your favorite NHL cities and/or facilities to work in? Are there any that make it particularly challenging to do your job? — Scott F. When I was younger, I liked going to the big cities for the first time: New York, Boston, L.A., Toronto, etc. After seeing those cities, I preferred convenience — the shortest distance from the airport to the hotel and rink. As far as challenges, not really. When the game is over, it's a race to get downstairs to the dressing room in time for the interviews, and in rinks such as Toronto, San Jose, Boston and Anaheim, it's kind of an obstacle course going down the elevator and weaving your way through the hallways to get to the room. But nothing too bad. Advertisement My favorite is when the arenas are named after massive communications companies, such as Rogers, and have bad internet in the press box. They had one job! Do you have a favorite menu item at Jack's BBQ in Nashville? — Chris P. Three-meat plate with brisket, sausage and turkey. It comes with two sides, and I usually go with baked beans and mac and cheese, and they also give you a slice of cornbread. I know that's a lot, but here's the trick: I get half sweet and half unsweet tea to make sure I'm not overdoing it! If Blues fans could bring back one former player who is still currently playing in the NHL for one more season, who would you guess they would want to see? (Mine rhymes with Wayvid Duron). — Rshaffer3 You're right that it would be David Perron. It always came off as if you were closer to Perron than other players. With Steen coming in as the GM, does that open the door for Perron to rejoin the Blues in some capacity after his playing days? — Andrew B. Quick story: When the Blues live-streamed their end-of-season news conference, Perron was not there, but he texted me, 'You're in the way of the camera.' He was watching! He loves the Blues. I have to believe there'd be an opportunity for him in some capacity under Steen in the future. (Photo of Doug Armstrong: Jeff Curry / USA Today)
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Radek Faksa could return to St. Louis Blues in rare free agency twist: Report
Radek Faksa could return to St. Louis Blues in rare free agency twist: Report (ImaGE Source: Getty Images) NHL Rumor, where although the Stanley Cup Playoffs are warming up, teams out of the running are already working hard and looking ahead to the future. While four teams remain in pursuit of the Cup, the others are looking toward offseason agendas. Today's focus is on the St. Louis Blues , who are said to be interested in rehiring veteran center Radek Faksa . Blues general manager Doug Armstrong seeks Radek Faksa to come back As per recent news, Blues GM Doug Armstrong has indicated interest in bringing back Radek Faksa, who will become an unrestricted free agent . Faksa signed with the Blues mid-season and made a good impression with his consistent two-way play and excellent faceoff ability. While not particularly noted for his flashy offense, Radek Faksa's penalty killing and bottom-six anchoring made him an asset in depth. — stlouisblues (@stlouisblues) Armstrong affirmatively said the team is willing to bring back Radek Faksa, but stated that he is "letting the situation breathe." What that means is that there is interest from their side, but they are not going to make a hasty deal. They just want to observe and understand how the market is shaping up and what Radek Faksa may be seeking in contract duration and pay. Why Radek Faksa makes sense for Blues' plans At the age of 30, Radek Faksa provides veteran know-how and a defense-first mindset, two aspects that the Blues appreciate as they try to remain competitive within the Western Conference. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo St. Louis does not have too many unrestricted free agents this summer, so the Blues can be particular about whom they re-sign. It would not take a lot of money to bring back Radek Faksa and they can assist in stabilizing down the middle, especially if St. Louis is looking to do other things on the roster. The Blues value Radek Faksa's effort and leadership in the dressing room. He is one of those guys who just quietly does all the little things correctly, blocking shots, fighting in the corners, and making good decisions away from the puck. Also Read: A Spat Ignites Over Injury Incident, Between Winnipeg Jets And St. Louis Blues Coaches Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blues' top offseason priority? Center options? Match a Joel Hofer offer sheet? Mailbag, part 1
ST. LOUIS — Considering how aggressive the St. Louis Blues were in making moves in 2024-25, you can picture general manager Doug Armstrong champing at the bit to get his follow-up offseason officially underway. Not that Armstrong would've sat on his hands if the Blues had missed the playoffs, but as he noted at his end-of-season news conference, the team's performance down the stretch has raised expectations and, he said, 'Now it's how quickly do we move up and continue to expand?' Advertisement That certainly gives this offseason more intrigue. There's always something unexpected when Armstrong is working behind the scenes, and we'll find out what that could be in the coming months. Of course, fans already have their own ideas for how it should go. In The Athletic's latest call for Blues mailbag questions, subscribers seemed to have bigger ambitions for the possibilities than if St. Louis had missed the postseason for the third straight year. Let's see just how ambitious — and how realistic — the landscape is, in Part 1. (Note: Some questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.) What do you think Armstrong's two biggest offseason moves will be? And if they happen, do you think they'll make the Blues a legitimate Stanley Cup contender? — Michael B. For me, the two areas that need to be addressed are center and right-side defense. Let's start with center, where most of the talk is about the Blues needing a No. 2. I can understand that. It was a pretty good season for Brayden Schenn, who had a lot of chemistry with Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou, but he'll turn 34 in August, and there's no guarantee he won't regress. But to me, this is more about the overall situation at center. The Blues got 50 points from Schenn and 20 from Oskar Sundqvist, so a combined 70 points from their Nos. 2 and 3 centers. For comparison, the Dallas Stars got 153 points from Matt Duchene (82) and Wyatt Johnston (71). Granted, the Stars are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season, but that's a big discrepancy. So yes, the Blues could serve themselves well by picking up a No. 2 center with more scoring potential. If they did, Schenn could be No. 3, the depth up the middle would be vastly improved, and prospect Dalibor Dvorsky would have more time to develop. This is where the heightened expectations can change things because, in a perfect world, Schenn could hold down the fort until Dvorsky can be No. 2, assuming he's capable. But with the Blues believing they can be more competitive sooner, they might feel the need to upgrade now and not wait for Dvorsky to be that guy. Either way, they need to find some help at the position this offseason. Advertisement Now let's look at the right-side defense. Can the Blues find a taker for Justin Faulk and a replacement? Faulk is 33 and has two more seasons left on his contract, which has a $6.5 million average annual value. He has a full no-trade clause, but that changes to a modified NTC on July 1, when he'll have a 15-team NTC. The trade protection won't matter, though, if there aren't any takers for a defenseman whose offense has nosedived over the past two seasons. If there's no trade partner, the Blues might have to keep rolling with Faulk, barring a buyout, which doesn't seem likely. As for the last part of your question — could they be a Stanley Cup contender if they make these moves? — it depends on who they get. If it's the Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, then yeah. But we'll have to see what Armstrong comes up with to know how high it raises the ceiling. So what's the bigger priority: second-line center for Holloway and Kyrou or a top-four defenseman for Philip Broberg? — Patrick H. I'd say center depth. That move would have a more dramatic impact on the team's success. Armstrong mentioned his desire for a 200-foot forward. Any thoughts on who that might be and how that fits into our salary cap? — Chuck B. Let's operate under two assumptions: 1. The Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner would be too rich for the Blues' blood at a projected $13 million to $14 million AAV. 2. Center, not wing, is the focus. If those are the assumptions, then Bennett, a pending UFA, would be attractive. He doesn't bring more offense than Schenn, and his defensive numbers aren't overly impressive, but he plays a hard style and contributes at both ends. He'll be 29 in June, and the projection for his next contract (if with another team) is seven years at a $7.55 million AAV, according to Evolving-Hockey. That might be too much term for the Blues, but they'd be getting a player who has won recently with the Panthers and would make them more competitive now. Advertisement Who could the Blues target as a second-line center, aside from Bennett? — Shawn F. The Leafs' John Tavares turns 35 in September, so he doesn't fit the Blues' preferred age bracket, but he did have 38 goals and 74 points this season, and going back to what I noted earlier, you're adding depth and giving Dvorsky time to develop. That said, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun was at the Maple Leafs' end-of-season news availabilities Tuesday and reported that Tavares, a pending UFA, is 'optimistic' about returning to Toronto. His projected next contract (if with another team) would be a four-year deal with a $7.89 million AAV. John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he's optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point. — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 20, 2025 What about the Colorado Avalanche's Brock Nelson? — Gerald J. Nelson wouldn't be the worst option. He'll turn 34 in October, so again, he's a bit older. The issue with Nelson is his consistency. The Avs gave up Calum Ritchie, one of their top prospects, to get Nelson in a trade from the New York Islanders, and he had no goals and four assists in their first-round playoff loss to the Stars. Are any centers available via trade? — Matt S. This is always a hard type of question to answer because you don't know who's available, but names such as Ryan O'Reilly (Nashville Predators), Shane Pinto (Ottawa Senators), Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild) and Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) have been mentioned. With one or two of those players, I doubt their current club would actually trade them, and with others — Pettersson, cough, cough — run! Any chance the Blues bring in Brad Marchand in the offseason? — Evan R. I'll leave this one for subscribers in the comment section. What trade package would you accept for Kyrou? — Jackierosemunro If I'm trading Kyrou, I want proven offense in return. In the past three seasons, he's tied for 21st in the NHL in goals (104) and tied for 47th in points (210). Martin Necas is the type of player the Blues would have taken in return for Kyrou before Necas was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to Colorado in the Mikko Rantanen deal. Necas hasn't come close to matching Kyrou's goal totals, so they would probably want more than someone like him, and I wouldn't blame them. Say what you want about Kyrou, but if I'm the Blues, I want an equally productive offensive player or someone close and a draft pick(s). Unpopular opinion: The Blues should be looking to trade Dvorsky, not Kyrou. A trade for a second-line center fits their window better, and it would unlock Kyrou and Holloway. Agree? — Jack M. Just because you don't trade Kyrou doesn't mean you have to trade Dvorsky. Just like when the Blues drafted Robert Thomas in 2017, they brought in Ryan O'Reilly in 2018 and allowed Thomas to put in the work before he got his time to shine at center. The Blues have a lot of valuable pieces at forward with Dvorsky, Jake Neighbours, Zack Bolduc, Jimmy Snuggerud, Otto Stenberg, Juraj Pekarcik, Adam Jecho, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Jakub Stancl, Ondrej Kos and others. Do you envision Armstrong dealing a few of those pieces for an impact player? — Alexander M. Perhaps, but outside of Neighbours and Bolduc, I don't know who in that group would yield an impact player at this point. With Snuggerud and Dvorsky still unproven, how good is the player coming back? Advertisement Yes, you have to consider moving one or more of them because they can't all play in St. Louis, and at some point, the shine may wear off. But unless a trade for Neighbours or Bolduc is a no-brainer, I'm holding on to this group of players for now because their potential, with the prospects specifically, is worth more to the Blues than what they can get in a deal. Would you entertain trading for the New Jersey Devils' Simon Nemec or the Los Angeles Kings' Brandt Clarke, even if you had to trade Neighbours or Bolduc? — Todd H. So now you have to put me on the spot! I really like Neighbours and think he could be a captain one day. I envision him being part of the Blues' success in the future. I really like Bolduc, too. I think he has arguably the best shot on the team (haven't watched enough of Snuggerud yet to see if his will be even better), and likewise, he can be a big part. But if you can get one of these two young right-shot defensemen — Nemec, 21, the No. 2 pick in 2022, and Clarke, 22, the No. 8 pick in 2021 — you have to do it. I don't know if New Jersey or L.A. would make these deals, but if they would, it would be hard for the Blues to pass up on one of those two defensemen. Could you provide a prospect depth chart for the Blues defense? Who's next in line for a call-up, and did anyone rise or fall last season? — Tom K. Blues returners: Broberg, Faulk, Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, Nick Leddy, Tyler Tucker and Matthew Kessel. AHL Springfield: Corey Schueneman, Leo Lööf, Michael Buchinger, Lukas Fischer and Marc-Andre Gaudet. In the system: Adam Jiricek, Theo Lindstein, Colin Ralph, Quinton Burns, Arseni Koromyslov, Matthew Mayich and William McIsaac. As far as call-ups, Schueneman would likely be No. 1. Regarding any rising stock, probably Fischer, who had a great season with OHL Sarnia. And any fallen stock, Jiricek, just because of the number of games he missed with OHL Brantford due to injury. Advertisement Should the team explore trading the rights to Torey Krug to a team that needs to reach the lower threshold of the salary cap? — Ron H. It's a fair question because if a team is willing to pay Krug's salary, why wouldn't you do it? However, if he's unable to play again, he'll remain on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and his $6.5 million AAV won't count against the salary cap. Additionally, insurance will help offset his actual cash salary in '25-26 ($6 million), so the situation is not much skin off the Blues' back. What's your limit on Joel Hofer if someone offer-sheets him? Around $2.2 million? — G.R. If Hofer is unsigned by July 1 and becomes an RFA, an offer sheet is a possibility, but let's keep the compensation figures in mind when deciding whether to match. Let's use your number of $2.2 million. According to this year's recently released compensation, if Hofer were signed to that salary by another team, the Blues would receive a third-round draft pick. If it's $2.34 million or higher, it's a second-rounder. I don't believe a second-rounder is worth losing a potential future starter in Hofer, 24, who in 63 starts has a record of 35-22-5 and a .908 save percentage. His progression chart lines up with the final two years of Jordan Binnington's contract, so I'd hang on to Hofer up to any reasonable amount, and I don't think that'll be an issue because, although he has played well, it's not enough of a resume to break the bank. (Top photo of Torey Krug, Justin Faulk, Sam Bennett and Joel Hofer: Jasen Vinlove / Imagn Images)
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Alexander Steen Q&A: Blues future GM on learning from Doug Armstrong, state of the team and more
ST. LOUIS — In June 2024, the St. Louis Blues announced that Alexander Steen would be taking over the reins from Doug Armstrong as the team's next general manager. Does it feel like it's already been a year? 'Yeah, it's been a great year!' Steen said Friday. 'With Doug's mentorship and the staff that we have, they've made it very easy for me to find my rhythm, and it's been a great first year.' Advertisement In Steen's first month on the job last June, the GM-in-waiting was a part of his first NHL Draft, followed by free agency, training camp, the start of the season, the trade deadline and eventually the playoffs. Along the way, management had to make a lot of difficult decisions, most notably the firing of Drew Bannister and bringing in Jim Montgomery. Steen absorbed it all and will have one more year of that before officially becoming the first person to occupy Armstrong's seat since 2010, when he replaced Larry Pleau. Armstrong said earlier this week that Steen has positioned himself well to assume the role. 'His confidence as a hockey executive is growing,' Armstrong said. 'The questions he asks now are genuine; they're thought out. He's been around long enough to see what we do and how we do it. So I think he's in a good spot and he'll be ready. There's no question he's going to be ready.' Armstrong also joked that Steen loves the media, so 'he can't wait to do this.' Steen was watching the news conference live and laughed when asked Friday about Armstrong saying that. 'It's not a passion of mine,' he said, chuckling. 'But the media in St. Louis has been so supportive of me since I first came (to St. Louis) — easy to work with and all that good stuff — so yeah, it's going to be great.' What else is Steen looking forward to about the job, and what's he seen from the team this season? Here's a Q&A with the future GM: (Note: Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.) I saw you at almost every single practice and game this season. How important is it to be everywhere, and how has it helped you? Steen: Well, I think you've got to be around to get your feel for everything. I think that's one of the most important things: being present. It's different having something explained to you as opposed to being there. I've been to Springfield (Mass., home of the Blues' AHL affiliate), I've been to the World Juniors, etc. It's been interesting for me to dig into all of these different areas of the organization. So as much as you can be around, it's only positive.' Advertisement What are some things you've learned from Armstrong thus far, and if you were allowed to take one trait from him and make it yours, what would it be? Steen: I would say his ability to take in everybody's perspective and opinion and sift through all of the information. It's impressive how he can compartmentalize quickly, jump to the next thing and then jump back. I feel like sometimes you want to finish something before you go on to the next thing. But he has an innate ability when he's in the middle of something to cut back and go to the next thing. How is the GM-in-waiting arrangement working, as far as Armstrong making the decisions, but you being involved in the vision of the team? Steen: Well, for me, this first year has been a lot of information-absorbing, learning from Doug, the staff, the coaches, the players and finding out how that rhythm works. Doug and I have worked together since 2010, and we've had a very strong relationship. How much we pushed each other back then as a player and manager, that hasn't changed. It's been more of my role changing. We've worked very closely with each other this year, so it's a lot of conversations back and forth before practice, after practice, before games, on the plane. I think having that previous relationship makes it more natural for us because he feels comfortable where he can push me. He'll say, 'This is how I think, and through my experiences, this is how things work out,' and then I can come in from a player's perspective. So the collaboration has been great. GMs have to make difficult decisions, like the Blues changing coaches this season. Armstrong has made some bold ones over the years, and he always says that you have to take the emotion out. Is that something you're equipped to do, or something you learn? Steen: Two things come to mind. The first part: Being a professional athlete, you don't connect yourself emotionally the same way other people do. The second part: At the end of the day, the job is to do what's best for the organization. If you feel like that's the decision, then that's the decision. I'm kidding, but you would have had no problem trading your good friend Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets in 2018 like Armstrong did? Steen (laughing): Yeah, and offer-sheeting my mother! Coming out of the 4 Nations tournament, it looked like it would be a challenge for the Blues to make the playoffs. What was it like to watch the team come together, and what's something that sticks out in your mind during the turnaround? Steen: I think from the outside, you look for moments like that, and at the end of the day, it's a bunch of small, little moments that build up into those times. As a group, we understood the work that it takes, the investment you have to put in, and it's not just in one area — it's in all the areas. It's building up a mindset like we had at the end of the year, where it's serving each other, making each other better, leaving each other in a better place. To me, that's not sacrificing anything to do that. I'm not sacrificing anything to do it. I'm just trying to make this as great an environment as I can. So I would say it wasn't only a switch in mindset, but it's exciting, too, to watch them enjoy it. When you watch a team find that rhythm, it's so fun to be a part of. You can see the enthusiasm and the body language, and when we talk about St. Louis Blues fans and how intelligent they are, they've had hardworking teams here, so they've seen it and they know what it looks like. So when they see it, they're like, 'This is it!' Advertisement I'm curious what lessons you took away from this season that you might put in your back pocket and keep in mind later in your GM career? Perhaps you'll be saying to yourself, 'Well, I remember in 2025 …' Steen: Yeah, definitely, a lot of things. Observing the team, observing the staff and how changing one element of the team also changes another. Once we got aligned in how we wanted to conduct ourselves, things started to change. But I think every situation is unique. One season to the next is not going to be the same, and comparing one team to another team it's hard to do because the circumstances of every group are unique. But I learned a ton about that this season. Did the way the second half of the season went — getting into the playoffs and going to Game 7 against the Jets — tell you that this team is further along than many thought? If so, why? Steen: It's about where we thought we'd be, but the run excites me because it was a big moment. It's great to see the resiliency of the group, and for them to dig in like they dug in at the time. But we have to understand the amount of work and how much was put into what we got out. You can't expect to put 75 percent in and get 100 percent out. It's whatever you put in, you get out. So, going into this summer, we all have to find our areas where we can grow, and then we have to show up sharp and ready to go so that we can build off this momentum. I think everybody realizes the capability we have when we put our minds to it. There are several GMs in the NHL today who played in the league: Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Mike Grier (San Jose Sharks), Craig Conroy (Calgary Flames), Pat Verbeek (Anaheim Ducks). Have you gotten any advice? Steen: The hockey community is great, and I enjoy running into players that I played with who are now working in the league. I've certainly reached out to a lot of people around the league, including some in the same position. … I can't say there's one single person who's given me the single-most best advice, but I talk to a lot of people. Even going into this (position), it's not something that I just threw myself into. There were a lot of phone calls and a lot of conversations with people who've had this experience or a different experience. I'm very honored and humbled to be in this position with one of the greatest to ever do it (Armstrong) as a mentor, an ownership group that believes in me, all the people in the organization, and the city. This group has just done so much for me and my family, it's great for me to have the ability to try and make them proud. You were born in Winnipeg but have Swedish citizenship through your father, Thomas, and played internationally for Sweden. Your former Blues teammate, Barret Jackman, who's given you a lot of grief over the years about your nationality, would want me to ask: Are you a Canadian GM or Swedish GM? Steen (laughing): Just a GM! You're well aware of the Blues' tradition in St. Louis? It's a loyal fan base, and you've got a big following after your career here, including the Stanley Cup. What's been the reaction of fans you've encountered this season? Steen: What makes this city so great for me is that it's not about me. With the fans, it's, 'I'm so happy that the team …' and I agree. I share the same excitement. So it's the enthusiasm that I like the most. It's not about me. It's about the group, and that's why I feel this team thrives the most, because we have that partnership. It's only a year away until you'll be taking over. Does it seem exciting? Scary? Steen: I spend my time more on, 'What do I need to do to get myself ready and as prepared as I can be?' So today it's (media interviews), and I absorb it, and at the end of the day, I reflect on it. … Just prepare yourself. Spend your days getting ready and absorbing the information as much as I can do. And watch hockey! The short answer is just prepare yourself. Spend your days getting ready. Absorb the information and conversations. … And watch hockey! Yeah, get ready! And if you're caller ID says 'Ken Hitchcock,' don't answer it? Steen (laughing): No, I answer that one about twice a week, still!
