Armstrong Season Ending Press Conference

[Cahokanut]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

[Younghopp1991]

Thats kind of a bland comment to make. Saying the team isnt in the playoffs because of management. Yes it is true to a sense. Management decisions lost us some points forsurr. But we are not in the playoffs due to the entirety of the blue note not showing up on time and no one having a answer. That falls on players, coaches and management.

[BleedingBleu]

Amazing write up. Hit pretty much every point. I almost felt as if i was re-listening.
One question. When armstrong spoke on thomas going to worlds for canada, did you catch a hint of annoyance? When i was listening i got the sense army was saying thomas should prioritize the offseason for a hot start. That makes sense to me, but i could have read it wrong since army is usually a huge supporter of players representing their country. Thanks in advance.

That’s a great question. I wrote “Worlds - Thomas” and couldn’t recall the context and assumed I either combined something or that somehow Thomas would provide feedback from Worlds.

Honestly, I’d need to go back and listen to that part, because it was mentioned in conjunction with draft preparation for the First 3 Picks. Maybe his participation adds a variable of injury and therefore draft decisions should he miss time at the start of 2026/27?

[Rollin' on the River]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

No one should get a pass.

That’s why Thomas isn’t a first line center. He can’t elevate lesser teammates.

[Cahokanut]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

No one should get a pass.

That’s why Thomas isn’t a first line center. He can’t elevate lesser teammates.

Thomas was on the block for a reason. While it was hard to believe at the time and seemed kinda dumb. Looking back on how the season fell. There's more to the story, and I now think selling Thomas for future should be a summer necessary.

Thomas didn't get a pass from me. Thomas got a get the f_ck out of here from me.

Doesn't change anything.
what management did was stupid selfish, with a hint of [fork] you to thomas. What Thomas did was as equally selfish, with a hint of [fork] you in it.
For me both our best player and our management bagged the team.

[Walter Sobchak00]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

No one should get a pass.

That’s why Thomas isn’t a first line center. He can’t elevate lesser teammates.

Can you explain Holloway's production with Thomas if he doesn't elevate lesser teammates?

You've said several times you don't think Holloway is much yet with Thomas he was a top line producer. So which did you change your mind on Holloway or Thomas?

[Younghopp1991]

Amazing write up. Hit pretty much every point. I almost felt as if i was re-listening.
One question. When armstrong spoke on thomas going to worlds for canada, did you catch a hint of annoyance? When i was listening i got the sense army was saying thomas should prioritize the offseason for a hot start. That makes sense to me, but i could have read it wrong since army is usually a huge supporter of players representing their country. Thanks in advance.

That’s a great question. I wrote “Worlds - Thomas” and couldn’t recall the context and assumed I either combined something or that somehow Thomas would provide feedback from Worlds.

Honestly, I’d need to go back and listen to that part, because it was mentioned in conjunction with draft preparation for the First 3 Picks. Maybe his participation adds a variable of injury and therefore draft decisions should he miss time at the start of 2026/27?

I may have been wrong. At least when i skimmed back i heard army talking about how he believes thomas can represent canada and army thinks he will. But said “his day job is here” maybe i read too much into that the first go. Or he might have hinted somewhere else and i didnt have the patience to relisten. Let me know if you find anything

[TAFKAP]

My Notes from the DA End of Season Conference:

Disappointing Season

After the 2nd half of the 2024/55 season and performance in the playoffs showed progression, they expected a better start to 2025/26. He had theories about the sluggish start out the gates, but did not inject those into the conference. What he did state was the guys moved at the deadline were not “the problem.” – far from it. In hindsight, they viewed the Western Conference’s overall competition as nothing more than a "Pillow Fight;" which influenced the Front Office to reassess short, medium, & long-term plans – including trades of Veteran Players and Locker Room Leaders at the deadline.



Assessing the Team & Season – 1.) Lack of Mental Toughness

I’m actually going to bullet point these.

• Scores of the games: Lost two 4-Goal leads, something that might only happen once a decade happened twice in a month.

• Lost numerous games with 1 minute left
  
  • (again, the emphasis on Mental Toughness)

• Rookie Goal Scorers were Top 5 in points, Top 10 in Goals

• Teams did not take the Blues serious after Olympics – rightfully so.
  
  • (rightfully so was an interesting statement here. I think it was meant to reinforce the pitifulness of the team and the reputation they had earned with a poor first half then selling at the deadline)

Post Olympics

Again, I’ll bullet point these.

• Exceptional First Line (Thomas, Holloway, Snugerrud)

• Played w/House Money and didn't play well with money on the table
  
  • (Another emphasis on Mental Toughness)
  • Played 20 minutes in San Jose & LA
    
    • Came Home against Colorado and [shirt] the bed - not close to that level

• DIFFERENT FEELING Post-4Nations & Post-Olympics
  
  • 2024/25 - that team met everyone of those challenges - should have won the First Round
  • 2025/26 - didn't get the job done

Lingering questions about Final Positioning

They had been collecting First Round Picks. So, they use them. Logan Mailloux played Top Minutes at RHD. Theo Lindstein played as a Top 4 Defenseman. Stenberg came up, played well, and was given minutes.

Of course they’d prefer a to level pick like a Petro/Johnson (looking at people with daggers on this one), with the exception of going through the suck to get to that point. However, they challenged the young players to come up and disrupt that plan… and they did. The players changed the belief the team was a bottom dweller by performing last 7 weeks of the season.


Now, the offseason focus will be on the guys in their early 20’s. Guys like Snugerrud & Mailloux. Doug acknowledged how great Snuggy was, but wants to prepare him for the toughness of a breakout season going forward. Believes in the Sophomore Jinx, because guys are now named commodities to be emphasized by opposition. It only gets harder now that Snugerrud is established. Despite taking that next step in minutes and good play by Mailloux, the same applies - it only gets harder (Oct, Nov, Dec). The “older” group like Thomas, Kyou, Holloway, & Broberg have already been there, done that. In other words, they know what they need to do to prepare for 2026/27


Assessing Thomas & Parayko Future(s)

I’ll share my opinion first, then what Armstrong said. I got a real sense that Colten is not in the “3-year” plan. This is simply because Doug spoke about Thomas and hardly mentioned Parayko – at all. There was lots of talk about getting younger. Lots of talk about opening up spots for prospects. In my opinion, if they had a deal for Parayko at the Deadline, they will probably have a deal for him this Summer. Again, this is my opinion – not Doug’s, not fact-based.


What Doug actually said:

They (Thomas & Parayko) have been Foundational Players for a long time. Will need to talk with Ownership about changes to the 1 & 3 Year Plans. They (players) don’t have a say anymore than the team. It’s a 50/50 relationship with neither side owns the ultimate hammer.

Thomas is a hell of a player and a #1 Center in this league (Once again, looking at those with daggers on this one). Robert was not the same player at the beginning as he was in the end. He had injuries he fought/played thru. If he can put the last 2 Second Halves together into one season, then he is a first/second team Allstar and his play is good enough to represent Canada. (I got the sense he expects RT will be on the team in the future.

Interesting Point by Doug: Robert Thomas was “like the whole team at the start of the year.”


Again… I don’t recall a mention of Parayko, and it felt like he was not apart of the 3-year plan.


More on Thomas and the Top Line…

Growth of players around Thomas? Snug & Holloway... is a huge indication of the player RT is. His assessment of the trade talks were that trade talks can be somewhat/easily fabricated and gain that momentum when they are out in the public discussion. When “everyone is available,” it’s nothing more than a statement and the values are what matter. Robert Thomas is available at the highest of prices and DA values him higher than anyone else... Period.


1-3 years Path – Direction

Doug & Company traded players and got 3 First Round picks – stay on that path. They decided this strategy to rebuild/retool on the fly - never lost sight of keeping draft picks (aka buying at the deadline). And views the 2nd & 3rd Round picks traded for Broberg & Holloway as a extremely good return on investment of those pick assets. Will still need to take time and sit w/Alex Steen to make sure everyone is on the same path. However, here’s a glimpse into the thinking…


Over the last few years…

• 2nd Most First Round Draft Picks

• Top 5 in First 3 Round Draft Picks

The 2023 Picks are Players and they have to play on the team

The 2026 Deadline created space this year, will need to create more space - but not full tear down (Ex: get rid of all veterans).

• - This leads me to think there won’t be any significant Free Agent signings.

Doug then went on to give the following roster assessments:

• Otto & Theo looks like good prospects
  
  • - I don’t take this as a knock, as he later emphasized Otto was a good player and praised Theo for Top 4 Defense contributions

• Snuggy & Dvorsky are on the team

• HOFer looks like a legitimate #1 Goaltender

Preparation w/3 First Round Picks

• Amateur scouting Meetings & U-18's (next Friday)

• Slovakia for 10 days

• Combine & Interview Players

• Amateur Scout Retreat w/part & full time

• Prepare blocks of players - what block

• Move up/back if needed
  
  • Picks/Prospects/Players are leverage
  • Worlds

Input to next season

Training Camp

- new format require leadership practices on par w/nhl practices
- Respecting the league
- Mental Toughness must improve

• hung onto things (organizationally) too long

• Too long to win multiple games in a row

• Mental resolve was not there that Playoff Caliber teams have

Attitude

• Has to be a reconning for what happened

• Attitude at work

• Love the grind, love the challenge love the adversity - thrived on it "punch in the face"

Who is Kyrou?

The belief is that Jordan Kyrou is a 30 Goal Scorer w/bad - Sporatic year. A player who will play many years will have some duds – not every year will be a Rembrant. Doug believes Kyrou could be a 15 year player and that Jordan wants to be successful. To do that, he expects/hopes JK wakes up excited to prove he wasn't the 2025/26 player


Binnington's Future w/Blues

Armstrong acknowledges that Binny has a deep resume, even joked “who can say anything bad about Jordan?” Doug indicated that this was not the year JB wanted to have and reiterates that Jordan is the Ultimate Competitor. However, DA feels Jordan will need to reassess his training.

My Opinion: Jordan is back.

Doug stated his belief in the length of a NHL required a need for two good goaltenders.


Dylan Holloway?

The case with Dylan is “Open-ended” (short term bridge deal?). He compared the Holloway situation with his fellow Offer Sheet buddy, Broberg. Phillip Broberg – “Same player he was when he Started vs Ended” whereas Dylan Holloway must show “he's a 82 game player to the level that he ended.” That there is “more gray to the area for Holloway than Broberg.”



Finally… the Transitions



July 1 – Will be business as usual, Doug will stay in contact with Managers around the league until 7/1/2026 when that officially becomes Steen’s job. Doug is involved in the draft and will work hand-in-hand with Steen.

The guys traded at the draft will be Steen's call, but still be based on Doug's guidance. Alex will put his stamp on the team.



Succession Plan & viewpoint

• Alex is hungry/ready

• New Leadership voice

• Job is to serve Alex & Stillman

Reflection

- 22 years at the helm

- Teams averaged 100 points

- Thoughts turn to the players like Pietro, Morrow, Modano, Steen, Bouwmeister, Binnington, Turco


Anticipate July +2nd: have to let Alex make those decisions - Players know he's in charge



Assistant Coaches

What's a good staff? Steen’s, Armstrong’s, & Montgomery’s input… with Monty carrying a greater weight.

• - Checkmarks meets attributes equals hire

• Has to be vetted - criteria for what we want and not just names
  
  • Special Teams, Communication, Hockey Knowledge, Work w/Youth

Captaincy?

Largely up to Alex & Jim (Montgomery) to assess. DA believes the League is evolving into Leadership by Committee

Well done, thank you. Due to work and an old dog,who is not long for this world, my attention has been elsewhere. Only thing Doug missed was wanting guys who will do the knife into the eye, into the brain thing. Until they're dead.

[LGB73]

Thanks for the write up Bleeding.

On CP, I would say keeping him makes sense to have an experienced player paired with Lindstein. I'm sure Army is not happy the trade was blocked because that was a hell of a deal. I could see moving CP if we were landing someone like Nemec in return as part of a deal.

[bgwinn01]

Good God. Just watch the video. The DA part is 20 minutes. I simply posted the most important take from his viewpoint. Whatever else people want to try to impress everybody with their hocky knowledge is frankly, immaterial. I could've posted my own thoughts but those too would be meaingless. The ONLY thing that matters is what DA and AS think. There you have it. Good luck. FWIW I hope they keep 18 and 55. The team is 2-3 years away from winning the Cup. They will be competetitive next year unless too many important guys get hurt. Enough said.

[Rollin' on the River]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

No one should get a pass.

That’s why Thomas isn’t a first line center. He can’t elevate lesser teammates.

Can you explain Holloway's production with Thomas if he doesn't elevate lesser teammates?

You've said several times you don't think Holloway is much yet with Thomas he was a top line producer. So which did you change your mind on Holloway or Thomas?

Holloway has 22 and 26 goals. It’s not like Thomas lofted him that much. We knew he had second line potential when they stole him.

[Walter Sobchak00]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Until Schenn left. Thomas had third line mates and was excepted to get it deep and play defense against others top line.

How did that happen. How was Schenn pulling top players and minutes. And How is Thomas blamed for that.

The reason this team isn't in the playoffs is because of decisions made by management.

No one should get a pass.

That’s why Thomas isn’t a first line center. He can’t elevate lesser teammates.

Can you explain Holloway's production with Thomas if he doesn't elevate lesser teammates?

You've said several times you don't think Holloway is much yet with Thomas he was a top line producer. So which did you change your mind on Holloway or Thomas?

Holloway has 22 and 26 goals. It’s not like Thomas lofted him that much. We knew he had second line potential when they stole him.

Thomas started playing with Holloway the last 20 games of the season.. from that point Thomas was 5th in the league in scoring and Holloway was ninth.

The line of Holloway Thomas Snuggerud was the #1 line on the NHL

And as I recall you said he was an overpaid 4th liner..

[xweazel75]

When Army basically said: 'Organizationally, we hung onto some things for too long". It lasted into two games, three games.

I wonder what he means here? Its not players IMO. This is something else entirely. Almost that the team was having trouble adjusting to the data in real time. Strategy was off, personnel groupings not ideal. The team analytics was there, but the subsequent moves were late?

Anyone else have a read on this?

-x

[WilliamWestcliffe]

Exactly what you want him to say and expect him to say.

We should not be talking about winning meaningless games at this time next year. And who we would draft at 8 versus 11.

Those days are over.

We’ll see.

“Superstar” Robert Thomas needs to lead the boys out the gate then.

Of course he does. Holloway, too. RT's record over the past five seasons is pretty impressive, the Blues would be hard-pressed to replace him and his potential at this juncture.

They all need to come out of the gate with their (donkey) on fire. No excuse to lolly gag until the first of the year.

They'll have a slightly long leash depending on what rookies make the club, but I see Monty's seat getting a little warm if they stumble out of the gate. And I love Monty.

I would hope that this has been explained to these guys. They need to come out hot or they’re gone.

They’re already gone. It was pretty evident in both Montgomery and Armstrong’s pressers that there are no further chances for this locker room.

Armstrong and Montgomery both subtly stated that this team doesn’t have a backbone or desire to fight. It wasn’t there to start the season and when Montgomery chewed them out they wilted even further (7 game losing streak).
Armstrong then basically stated the fate of next years team and players was already determined at that point. That he wasn’t swayed by the post Olympic run.

So buckle up. I’d imagine this locker room is destined to look quite a bit different next season.

If you read between the lines there seems to be some real organizational angst with Buchnevich, Kyrou and Parayko. Maybe even Thomas, but we’ll see.