Is Doug Armstrong the Best GM in Blues History?

[TBone]

Ron Caron stories! The first time I left the United States it was by myself in a dying car in a Canadian blizzard to go see the Blues play the Nordiques on a Saturday Dec 14 1991. The Blues trailed 2-1 in this game and scored 2 shorthanded goals on the same penalty in the third period and won 4-2. I got there very early and among other things ran into Ron Caron in an elevator, it was just me and him talking about Dan Laperriere who was a Blues 5th round draft pick in 89, defenseman at St. Lawrence. (I did PBP in the ECAC and observed this player). It was a bit of a surreal moment, especially after just talking to Ken Wilson.

Did Ken Wilson's casual voice match his announcing voice? Even in interviews he's got that radio annoucer voice going. Maybe it's natural.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

no

[seattleblue]

Ron Caron stories! The first time I left the United States it was by myself in a dying car in a Canadian blizzard to go see the Blues play the Nordiques on a Saturday Dec 14 1991. The Blues trailed 2-1 in this game and scored 2 shorthanded goals on the same penalty in the third period and won 4-2. I got there very early and among other things ran into Ron Caron in an elevator, it was just me and him talking about Dan Laperriere who was a Blues 5th round draft pick in 89, defenseman at St. Lawrence. (I did PBP in the ECAC and observed this player). It was a bit of a surreal moment, especially after just talking to Ken Wilson.

Did Ken Wilson's casual voice match his announcing voice? Even in interviews he's got that radio annoucer voice going. Maybe it's natural.

Wilson sounded like Wilson to me lol. He saw me in my Blues jersey on the upper concourse a good hour+ before the game and I recognized him of course. I was doing play by play in college at the time, so he was like, come with me we are going to the booth. I didn't even expect to see him so suddenly I'm in the Blues broadcast booth and I meet John Kelly for a sec. He had what I would describe as the absence of energy for this encounter. (Not a big deal, he was at work and here's some kid. But he seemed inert.) Wilson was just, enthusiastic to talk to me and show me around, it was great. Then I walked to the elevator and there's Caron.

It was a series of memorable things but truly the way I remember this whole story for myself is "the time I nearly died in a blizzard coming back from a hockey game in Canada." It took 8 hrs instead of 2 to reach the US border.

[STL fan in MN]

From a purely objective standpoint, he pretty clearly is the best Blues GM ever.

I mean, here’s the list:

Lynn Patrick
Scotty Bowman
Sid Abel
Carlie Catto (less than a year)
Lou Angotti (handful of months)
Sid Solomon III
Emile Francis
Ron Caron
Mike Keenan
Larry Pleau
Doug Armstrong

Bowman took the team to 2 Cup Finals but that was back when the Original 6 were in one division and the 6 expansion teams were in another. And his tenure was only 3 years.

I thought Ron Caron was a decent GM for his day. Passionate guy. The meat’s on the burner!

Keenan created a revolving door of players but at least he saved us from the horrific trumpet jerseys.

Pleau’s tenure is underrated IMO. He built some solid teams. He wasn’t a very public guy so I think he didn’t get credit for some stuff. But he also never got them over the hump. He could never get a Cup caliber goalie. He’s still probably gnashing his teeth these days that Hasek turned down being traded to the Blues as he wanted to go to the Wings instead.

Army brought us a Cup and had a great team for an entire decade. He’s really the obvious choice here.

[smegma]

From a purely objective standpoint, he pretty clearly is the best Blues GM ever.

I mean, here’s the list:

Lynn Patrick
Scotty Bowman
Sid Abel
Carlie Catto (less than a year)
Lou Angotti (handful of months)
Sid Solomon III
Emile Francis
Ron Caron
Mike Keenan
Larry Pleau
Doug Armstrong

Bowman took the team to 2 Cup Finals but that was back when the Original 6 were in one division and the 6 expansion teams were in another. And his tenure was only 3 years.

I thought Ron Caron was a decent GM for his day. Passionate guy. The meat’s on the burner!

Keenan created a revolving door of players but at least he saved us from the horrific trumpet jerseys.

Pleau’s tenure is underrated IMO. He built some solid teams. He wasn’t a very public guy so I think he didn’t get credit for some stuff. But he also never got them over the hump. He could never get a Cup caliber goalie. He’s still probably gnashing his teeth these days that Hasek turned down being traded to the Blues as he wanted to go to the Wings instead.

Army brought us a Cup and had a great team for an entire decade. He’s really the obvious choice here.

Not just you. But since Army brought the Holy Grail I agree he is the greatest GM!

[a smell of green grass]

Can we hold off on the hero worship until he is retired maybe? Armstrong needs more accountability at the moment, not a float in a victory parade.

[STLinCHI]

Can we hold off on the hero worship until he is retired maybe? Armstrong needs more accountability at the moment, not a float in a victory parade.

Why? Because honest answers to a simple question from multiple forum users cuts through your tiresome repeating narrative? Also, quit using "we" when answering. You are clearly an "I" guy.

[moose-and-squirrel]

From a purely objective standpoint, he pretty clearly is the best Blues GM ever.

I mean, here’s the list:

Lynn Patrick
Scotty Bowman
Sid Abel
Carlie Catto (less than a year)
Lou Angotti (handful of months)
Sid Solomon III
Emile Francis
Ron Caron
Mike Keenan
Larry Pleau
Doug Armstrong

Bowman took the team to 2 Cup Finals but that was back when the Original 6 were in one division and the 6 expansion teams were in another. And his tenure was only 3 years.

I thought Ron Caron was a decent GM for his day. Passionate guy. The meat’s on the burner!

Keenan created a revolving door of players but at least he saved us from the horrific trumpet jerseys.

Pleau’s tenure is underrated IMO. He built some solid teams. He wasn’t a very public guy so I think he didn’t get credit for some stuff. But he also never got them over the hump. He could never get a Cup caliber goalie. He’s still probably gnashing his teeth these days that Hasek turned down being traded to the Blues as he wanted to go to the Wings instead.

Army brought us a Cup and had a great team for an entire decade. He’s really the obvious choice here.

Francis never stood a chance. Bad ownership for him

[Old_Goat]

He won a Cup, but his talent evaluation is very sub-par.

Don't tell me about Dvorsky, etc. He is an unknown quantity. What happened to all his picks before Dvorsky that should be on the ice now?

When you compare the players on our roster that we drafted with what other teams have, it is disgusting and infuriating.

Best ever? Maybe, but we should have kicked him out in 2020 because it has been all downhill since then.

Do you mean Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Binnington, Ivan Barbashev, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Jake Neighbours, Zach Bolduc, Jimmy Snuggerud?
Now granted, in a Cap Environment, it is hard to keep all of your great picks, and I have probably overlooked a few whom are still doing well. But my list is sufficient to demonstrate your post is absolutely foolish and you are absolutely stupid. Oh, and since we should really not overlook that a GM's job is more than just drafting talent, you need to understand the importance of evaluating talent for which to bring in via trade, etc. in -- Bouweister, Schenn, O'Reilly, Broberg, Holloway, Fowler...again I've likely overlooked a couple of others.
You as a pinhead always twist the narrative and are only capable of focusing on your pet issues and selective data points to make a complete fool of yourself.
Yes, Armstrong is the best GM in the Blues' history.
Now be quiet and sit still. When we want your opinion we'll rattle your cage.

[HighStick]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

[SRV1990]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

[STL fan in MN]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

Why would you want a good player? The mystery box (draft pick) could be anything! It could even be a good player.

[netboy65]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

He keeps using that argument, but never takes outside factors into account. Mainly the ownership and the market wouldn’t support or sustain a full tank job. These things don’t happen in a vacuum.

[DawgDad]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

He keeps using that argument, but never takes outside factors into account. Mainly the ownership and the market wouldn’t support or sustain a full tank job. These things don’t happen in a vacuum.

It's not an argument. Is someone arguing the Earth is flat (not an orb) making an "argument"? Not really, it's an absurdity. The absurdity here is, as you point out, the Blues management is not about to tank this team for better draft picks. They like to sell tickets and pay their bills.

[netboy65]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

He keeps using that argument, but never takes outside factors into account. Mainly the ownership and the market wouldn’t support or sustain a full tank job. These things don’t happen in a vacuum.

It's not an argument. Is someone arguing the Earth is flat (not an orb) making an "argument"? Not really, it's an absurdity. The absurdity here is, as you point out, the Blues management is not about to tank this team for better draft picks. They like to sell tickets and pay their bills.

It was easier to just type “argument”!

[HighStick]

Credit where credit is due. Army brought us our only Cup. At that time every Blues fan on the planet would have given anything to bring STL that Cup. Army's the only one who's done it.

True, but wouldn't you prefer the Blues be at the bottom of the league for years and years so they can get higher draft picks that might work out?

I don't actually subscribe to that line of thought. I hate tanking and think it's a stupid strategy to improve your team in the long run. In the NHL every pick below the top 10 is a gamble. Tanking on purpose is bad for the team, bad for the players and bad for the fans. That's how you end up with a bunch of bandwagon fans like in Chicago. They love the team when they are winning but disappear when they are not. Who wants to go through 10 years of bottom dwelling just so you can say we got the #1 pick.