The St. Louis Blues made a flurry of big decisions on Thursday, announcing their succession plans for the foreseeable future. Doug Armstrong, the franchise's current general manager, was signed to a three-year contract extension. He'll remain GM until 2026 and president of hockey operations through the 2028-29 season, confirmed Blues Chairman Tom Stillman.
And Alex Steen, who has been a part of the Blues organization since 2008, was subsequently named special assistant to the general manager for the next two seasons, “after which he will be appointed as the 12th general manager in franchise history,” the release stated.
As well, Tim Taylor was promoted to an assistant general manager role, joining Ryan Miller. He will “continue to oversee player personnel while Miller oversees salary cap compliance, contract negotiations and other hockey operations responsibilities.”
It's an interesting move for the Blues, who will allow Steen to grow into the role before transitioning into full-time GM in 2025. For Amstrong, it'll be season No. 15 as the team's general manager when 2024-25 kicks off. He's helped the team secure 601 wins over his tenure, capturing the General Manager of the Year Award in 2012.
But the key accomplishment was bringing a Stanley Cup to Missouri for the first time ever in 2019, in a season where the Blues were once in last place. Armstrong was instrumental in that championship, and so was Steen's play and leadership during the incredible run.
Alex Steen was a heart and soul player for Blues
Steen spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, suiting up in 1,018 regular-season games. He joined the Blues after being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, and immediately became a key piece of the organization.
The 40-year-old played 765 regular-season games for St. Louis, adding another 91 playoff contests. “He is one of only five players in franchise history to appear in at least 12 seasons with the team,” per the release, “and currently ranks fourth all-time in games played, 10th in goals (195), sixth in assists (301), sixth in points (496), and sixth in game-winning goals (35).”
Steen's crowning accomplishment — along with the rest of the 2019 Blues — was hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time. He played in all 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games that season, chipping in five points and playing a key bottom-six role for the club.
The Blues beat the Boston Bruins in a thrilling Game 7 on the road, and although it's been a bit of a bumpy ride for the franchise since, nothing can take that title away. And it came at the perfect time for Steen, who officially retired following the 2019-20 NHL campaign. Now, he'll join Armstrong in the front office before taking over in two years time.
The Manitoba, Canada native has already got some experience under his belt, spending the 2023-24 campaign working as a European development consultant in the organization's hockey operations department.
Now with even more responsibility, it'll be intriguing to see what moves the franchise makes this summer in the quest to return to the postseason after back-to-back misses.
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