Doug Armstrong set a new standard on how to rebuild hockey teams. Just two seasons ago, the St. Louis Blues were on their way to an 81-point season and you can go as far as to say they were a terrible hockey team. No, not terrible in the grand scope of things, but terrible in Doug Armstrong standards.
Fast-forward to 2023-24, and the Blues showed some life down the stretch. But they were bland, boring, and a middle-of-the-road team that ultimately landed a lottery pick. With a new coach in Drew Bannister and at least somewhat inspiring play for a while, there was hope for the future.
Then, Doug Armstrong pulled a rabbit out of the hat, bringing Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to Arch City from Edmonton. The move worked out well, but he also brought in gadget pieces, like Radek Faksa, Mathieu Joseph, and Alexandre Texier.
This all came while the likes of Jake Neighbours and Joel Hofer became full-timers at the NHL level, and this season, Zack Bolduc joined that crowd. Fast-forward to later this season, Armstrong had no qualms about firing Bannister and bringing in Jim Montgomery while trading for Cam Fowler.
St. Louis Blues general manager added a mixture of young and older talent
Here’s what impressed me about Armstrong’s moves: most of them weren’t flashy. Take out the offseason acquisitions of Broberg and Holloway, and none of the other players mentioned were household, or soon-to-be, household names. But he added a pair of them, and both Broberg and Holloway joined that core.
Oh, throw in Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou, while keeping Brayden Schenn in town as the undisputed captain, and you have a team that’s gone from completely irrelevant two years ago to a playoff contender.
Broberg’s a top-four blueliner, Holloway’s becoming a legend in Year 1, and Buchnevich, Kyrou, and Thomas are all thriving. Cam Fowler’s proven to be a smart addition, and let’s not forget how well Joel Hofer’s completed the tandem that includes No. 1 goaltender Jordan Binnington.
And, you have teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Utah Hockey Club, just to name a few, looking up at the Blues. If you asked me where I’d rank the Blues among all the above teams this time two seasons ago, I’d have maybe put them ahead of Utah (then the Arizona Coyotes).
There’s a new standard for rebuilding hockey teams thanks to the Blues
Armstrong was sensible enough to bring in key veterans to keep building this team, but he was bold enough to bring in a pair of players who would help them reach new heights. No, I didn’t anticipate it to occur this season, perhaps in 2026-27. But looking back, it’s easy to see how Armstrong sped up the process.
At the end of the day, the Blues won out, lapping opposing teams that have been stuck in rebuilding mode for years. Well, maybe if they check out what Doug Armstrong has done in Gateway City and try to replicate that, they just might finally climb out of those gaping holes they dug themselves into.
No guarantees, but if one NHL executive has proven to master the rebuild, retool, whichever name you’d like to give it, it’s Doug Armstrong. Now, let’s enjoy the fact the Blues will be soaring, playoffs or not, while those other organizations unable to figure anything out struggle to keep up with Armstrong’s group.