St. Louis Blues Doug Armstrong Has Freedom, But So What

Here we go entering another offseason for the Blues. Their GM has money and freedom to spend, but we’ve heard that before. Does it really change anything?

The St. Louis Blues are in a familiar position this offseason. They still need a center and they still need someone who is going to either score goals or set them up at a pace that will help the team beyond any doubt.

It is not as though those things grow on trees. If they did, every team in the league would be stocked up because some of the best teams are always deep down the middle.

According to an interview on NHL.com, Doug Armstrong has had the reigns taken off this offseason. Ownership has given him the green light to get the necessary pieces or pieces, either via free agency or a trade.

Don’t stop me if you’ve heard this before though. The article would end right here.

We have heard this song and dance before. The music always seems to stop with the Blues left clutching their wallet or not having enough pieces or time to complete a deal. Will this summer actually be any different.

The answer is it can be, but we won’t know if it will be until we see the actual proof. There are two main reasons it can be different though.

The Blues Do Have Money

The salary cap is a fluid thing right now and even the GM’s and owners don’t know what it will be. It could be anywhere from $78 million to $82 million.

That difference is important. That’s an extra second or third line player contract just in the difference between the cap ceiling possibilities.

The good thing is that it does not matter incredibly much. Even with the cap set at $75 million, the Blues currently have just shy of $13 million to spend. So, depending on what the NHL number crunchers figure out, the Blues could have anywhere from $16 to $20 million in cap space.

That’s a good chunk of change to either stick your foot right into free agent waters as opposed to just a toe. Or you can pool some assets, make a trade and not worry about the contract you are absorbing vs. the salaries you are sending away, which has hamstrung St. Louis plenty of times.

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On top of all that, the Blues don’t have to shell out a lot of money to their own people for once. You have to pay Joel Edmundson, but as a restricted free agent, you can go long-term or bridge deal and be OK.

Edmundson is the only player you have to bring back. All other free agents for the Blues are expendable, even if we’d like to see them back. Robby Fabbri is a name that you include in the players you’d like to see back. However, he is not arbitration eligible and has an injury history. The likelihood of getting him on the cheap is high.

In the past, the Blues have always had to sign multiple key players. So, you could not think too much into free agency because you had to worry about your own guys getting contracts first. With only one high-profile player needing a deal, one which should not cost more than 20% of your available space, the Blues can look outward finally.

The Clock Is Ticking

The other reason I think we can actually believe that Armstrong will make moves this summer is his time is limited. People have said that in the past, but the reality was that he was always safe. That may not be the case any longer.

That is not to say that ownership is unhappy with Armstrong specifically. There was a reason they gave him an extension and it was a smart move at the time.

That said, there are only so many chances in pro sports. Ownership might not be unhappy, but they are definitely frustrated. Eventually you get to a point where change is needed throughout, not just in terms of the guys down in the rink.

Armstrong has to know his clock is now ticking. Tom Stillman has shown great patience, but you might read him telling Armstrong to spend and make moves as saying get the job done or we will find someone who will. That is a total inference, but not a stretch.

Army has been with the team since 2008 and in his role as general manager since 2010. There have been people in place longer in NHL history, but you’re getting to the edge of what is reasonable if there is little change in the results.

Armstrong has the backing of his bosses, but how long can you stick with that? I am one of the few that thinks he has done a reasonable job and a new body does not always mean better results. However, just like coaches, sometimes the plans of a GM can run their course.

Armstrong has put together some of the most consistent teams in Blues history, but he always seems to have his eye a little too far on the future. That’s great, but if you can’t address your present, then you are just spinning your wheels.

Round And Round We Go

The biggest disappointment with the Blues under Armstrong, and really under every GM for the last 30 years, is we are always looking for the same thing. The team always needs a scorer or a top-line playmaker. Yes, they are hard to find, but if even blind squirrels find nuts, you’d think the Blues could just once.

Maybe it is a St. Louis thing. The Cardinals are going through a similar rut. Every offseason with the Birds, we say the same things are needed – big bat, middle infield and pitching (usually bullpen).

Every season they do just enough to make us think it has changed and then we end up with the same result. It’s a vicious circle.

The Blues did a fantastic job of acquiring Brayden Schenn. The problem was that Paul Stastny was not the answer for this team as a top center or even second line center. Unless you’re pairing him with elite wingers, Stastny is probably a third-liner at this point.

So, we go round again and the Blues still need an upgrade even after the great season that Schenn had.

If you don’t go up the middle, then the Blues have to find another high-scoring winger. Those are easier to come by, but no less expensive.

You have to find someone that can take the pressure off Vladimir Tarasenko and/or fill the void if Jaden Schwartz continues to have injuries.

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They’ve needed those same things for several offseasons in a row. This summer has to be different. You have to actually acquire those pieces.

You have the money. For once, you don’t have inside free agents taking the priority. The ownership group has given you freedom. Now it is time for Armstrong to prove the doubters wrong and actually get it done.