It’s not a shock, but St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is set to reprise his role as the GM for Team Canada‘s men in the 2026 Olympics. It’s a role he first occupied in 2022 when his nation surprisingly finished shy of the podium. But then, he was forced to work with a collection of amateurs and former professionals. This time around, the NHL will be sending its best and brightest to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, meaning Armstrong will have his pick of the litter. There’s no question that the Connor McDavids and Nathan MacKinnons of the world will have their place, but could this have ramifications for the current Blues’ roster? In two players’ cases, the answer is probably yes.
Armstrong’s Incredible Resume
The 2026 Olympics will be the latest and potentially ultimate feather in the cap of one of the most decorated hockey managers of all time. Armstrong is the first executive in history to join the Double Triple Gold Club. He helped Canada win the World Championship in 2007 and 2016. He helped them win Olympic Gold in 2010 and 2014. And he has won two Stanley Cups: one with the Dallas Stars in 1999, and one with the Blues, their only Stanley Cup, in 2019. Of course, he was not the man at the helm of all of those runs; however, it is still an incredible resume for one GM’s career.
In this instance, Armstrong has the chance to add the ultimate jewel to his crown. He’ll be managing in the first true best-on-best international hockey tournament in over a decade. Coincidentally, it is the final season of his current contract with the Blues. And at 61 (which he will be at the time) it might well be one of the last acts in his illustrious career. So it will be his prerogative to build the greatest roster that he can in pursuit of hockey’s ultimate international prize. But any GM is still likely to favor the players he knows best, which means this appointment might be very good news for two players in particular.
Jordan Binnington: Canada’s Goalie?
Right now, Jordan Binnington is in the middle of a resurgent season that has him looking much more like the netminder that rose from obscurity to steer the Blues to that 2019 Stanley Cup. His 15.6 Goals Saved Above Expected have him ranked fifth amongst all NHL goalies according to Money Puck and, critically, he is the top-ranked Canadian goalie on the list.
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