There’s no way this Blues rumor is true

The St. Louis Blues have been the subject of all sorts of rumors this season. It’s fair game when you think about a team going through a, ahem, ahem, retool. Those rumors have included just about every player on the roster, with some actually coming to fruition.

But there’s an alarming rumor that can’t possibly be coming true. And that one doesn’t involve a player.

Recent chatter has picked up online about the Toronto Maple Leafs potentially hiring Doug Armstrong as their next GM.

Wait a minute, what?

As it stands, it seems like this rumor stems from a bunch of guys just spitballing. But could there actually be any substance to it?

An educated guess would say no. There doesn’t really seem to be any meat to it. Armstrong is leaving the GM world and is moving into a different sort of life within the NHL and the Blues’ organization.

However, there might be one plausible explanation why this rumor could actually have something behind it.

Why Armstrong to Maple Leafs rumors could make sense

So, the Maple Leafs are a mess at the moment. There will be changes coming. The only question mark is how deep those changes will run. Some of the pundits posit that the shift will come from the top down.

Others believe the move will happen at a roster level. But let’s assume the Leafs clean house. That scenario could involve axing the coach and GM in the same offseason. Likely, the move starts with the GM.

So, why not tempt someone like Armstrong to go over there and right the ship? The connection between him and Craig Berube is an obvious one. Perhaps the organization feels that things could turn around like the Buffalo Sabres did. A change in the GM chair could spark a turnaround for the hockey club.

There’s also a vacant President of Hockey Operations role. So, would being GM and President be something that might entice Armstrong?

It’s a possibility. But then again, anything is possible in this world. Its likelihood is another story entirely.

Why this Blues rumor is just another fabrication

If there were any actual substance to this rumor, at least one of the notable insiders would have picked up on it. At least, there would be some sort of discussion regarding this possible move.

The lack of overall chatter surrounding this possibility might just be ramping up. But it doesn’t seem likely. Doug Armstrong doesn’t seem keen on extending his career in a GM role. Unless he wanted to become someone like Lou Lamoriello, who was in a GM role in his late 70s, it’s most likely Armstrong is more willing to take a step back and ease off the gas a little bit.

Never say never, but unless this rumor actually picks up any traction, it’ll just be another one of those online things that pick up steam for no real reason.