The National Hockey League had a plethora of changes, with seven teams changing General Managers, dating back to the start of the 2025-26 season. This many transitions of power create an interesting bunch of storylines moving forward, as the increase in the salary cap continues to occur.Â
The St. Louis Blues were one of those seven teams, but the only one that made the move without having to fire anyone. Doug Armstrong picked his successor in Alexander Steen, and things have gone well thus far.Â
Of course, no games have been played yet.Â
How does Steen’s first month as GM stack up against the rest of the new hires around the league? Let’s talk about it.Â
Comparing to the rest
Last season saw the Buffalo Sabres change GMs, and man, did it make all the difference. They picked themselves up under the guise of a new head man, Jarmo Kekäläinen, and turned their season into one that absolved a 14-year drought. The Blues are not going to have that kind of luck with Steen, but you never know.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and Detroit Red Wings also moved on from previous General Managers to someone new. Of that group, John Chayka joins the Maple Leafs and is immediately treated as a generational talent in Gavin McKenna in the 2026 NHL Draft. Before departing his role, Armstrong was able to give Steen a bunch of draft picks for the first round of the draft by getting rid of some once-seemingly immovable contracts.
Steen enters this new role with the Blues blood in his veins. He was a key part of this organization as a player, and now he steps into the most important position with a future that is positive but mysterious. Much like the other six GM's that are now in place, Steen has to navigate this new landscape of insane contract offers for young talent. Jimmy Snuggerud is going to be an interesting case to see, as he will be up for a new deal at the end of the 2026-27 season and should be the first player in Blues history to surpass $10 million AAV.
Before the 2026-27 season starts in a few months, there may be one more deal on the table for the Blues. Though unlikely, if Steen can pull off a deal for Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, it might solidify this offseason as one of the best ever for a Blues GM. He also might be regarded as the best amongst his new peers in the GM spot around the NHL.
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