St. Louis Blues General Manager has a brief meeting with reporters and news outlets this afternoon and gave a little update on the state of his team. The comments made should bear some weight with the players, and should be a jolt of excitement for fans.
Shoutout to Lou Korac of The Hockey News on these great quotes from the GM.
Unexpected start
Armstrong spoke on the start of this season and how it has not gone the way that it should have gone. Following last season's historic run and solid playoff appearance against the Winnipeg Jets, it hasn't even been close to that in 2025-26.
Armstrong: "Injuries happen, everyone has them, and it’s just our turn to deal with them, but we’re not playing well enough to overcome them right now, and that’s disappointing." #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 16, 2025
The injuries keep happening, and it will not slow down. The Blues have done what they can with calling up from Springfield and now, going to the waiver wire to grab Jonatan Berggren from Detroit. No matter what way you slice it, the Blues are still trying to put together a winning hockey team, and they have not thrown in the towel yet.
Open for negotiation?
The core group is locked up for a long time ahead, but those players are aging. and it is not like fine wine. Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, Colton Parayko,and Jordan Binnington is that core group, and time is running out. Armstrong opened up on the prospect of trades and moves on an external level, and he reassured that there was no one on this team that is untouchable.
Armstrong on potential of trades (1/2): "Again, I don’t want to come across like … when you’re in this position, like Wayne Gretzky got traded. There’s really no untouchables – not on the St. Louis Blues – there’s really few untouchables in the league … Sid, Connor, Nate (CONT)
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 16, 2025
If there was one player to put that untouchable tag on, it is Robert Thomas. This team would only sell him for the crown jewel, and even than it wouldn't be enough. The same can be said for Jimmy Snuggerud, as he could be a very valuable asset in the future.
This is where the exciting part begins for fans. Armstrong used this moment with reporters to spark a little bit of motivation with his players. Obviously, you want to win without having to make a single move, and keeping your team together now only helps with chemistry once the playoffs arrive, should the Blues turn it around and make it. Armstrong stands by that, but only if the result continues to be successful, and that this team does not repeat itself from their once-in-a-lifetime run at the end of the season.
Armstrong on being patient, like he was rewarded with last year: "Yeah, I hope they go on a run. I hope a lot of things, but hope is a bad strategy. The reality of our industry is, as a group, they’ve got to go on a run, so when the phone rings I say ‘No.’" #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 16, 2025