"I'd like to thank the coaches and the players," Armstrong said. "The hard work that they do is really what sets this organization apart. What they've been able to do over the last decade of making us one of the top teams in the NHL, allowing us to push and stay in that echelon over the next five years and beyond is exceptional. We're looking forward to staying here."
Armstrong replaced Larry Pleau as Blues general manager July 1, 2010, and was named GM/alternate governor and president of hockey operations Sept. 3, 2013. He can become longest-tenured GM in St. Louis history during the contract, surpassing Pleau (1997-2010).
Under Armstrong, the Blues have won three Central Division titles (2011-12, 2014-15, 2019-20), qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs nine times in 11 seasons, and won their first Stanley Cup championship since joining the NHL in 1967-68, defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. He won the NHL General Manager of the Year Award in 2012 as voted by NHL GMs and executives, and media members. (It was renamed the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award in during the 2019-20 season.)
Armstrong had this season remaining on his contract, with a team option for 2022-23. The new contract begins this season.
"I could not be more pleased," Blues owner Tom Stillman said. "As you all know, Doug is one of the top GMs in the league; in my view, the top GM. I'm just really happy to have him committed to the Blues for the next five years. Doug's record speaks for itself over the last 11 years here."
The Blues acquired forward Pavel Buchnevich on July 23 in a trade with the New York Rangers for forward Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in 2022 NHL Draft.on July 23, then agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) with unrestricted free agent forward Brandon Saad six days later. Forward Vladimir Tarasenko was present for the start of training camp Thursday and said he is focused on playing hockey after he requested a trade through his agent May 25.
On Saturday, St. Louis acquired forward Logan Brown and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for forward Zach Sanford. Armstrong said the trade was made in part to get under the NHL salary cap of $81.5 million.
The Blues were 27-20-9 last season, fourth in Honda West Division, and were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup First Round.
On Feb. 3, Armstrong
was named general manager
of the Canada men's ice hockey team that will compete at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
