Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

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TheSolution
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Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by TheSolution »

Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
theograce
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by theograce »

Binnington could win gold, but it won’t do much for his value. His value is pretty set.

Good chance he won’t even play…and that’s not up to Armstrong anyways
TheSolution
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by TheSolution »

theograce wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:25 pm Binnington could win gold, but it won’t do much for his value. His value is pretty set.

Good chance he won’t even play…and that’s not up to Armstrong anyways
If JB wins gold, showing he is still up to his standard as a big game winning goalie, it absolutely changes his trade value.

Absolutely crazy to think otherwise.
theograce
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by theograce »

TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:27 pm
theograce wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:25 pm Binnington could win gold, but it won’t do much for his value. His value is pretty set.

Good chance he won’t even play…and that’s not up to Armstrong anyways
If JB wins gold, showing he is still up to his standard as a big game winning goalie, it absolutely changes his trade value.

Absolutely crazy to think otherwise.
No it doesn’t. You thinking it does doesn’t make it so. He won recently and it didn’t do much for his value.

People know who he is. He’s on the backend of his career
Old_Goat
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by Old_Goat »

TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:22 pm Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
Could almost be viewed as a conflict of interest? Those may be too strong of words...but sure feels like it's a distraction.
Yes Ellis is gone, but if your thought re Hofer, etc. and the small database reports of this young Swedish goalie recently drafted are accurate, then maybe it all works out in the end? But that realistically will require a few years. It certainly could help with the problem of both goalies' contracts expiring concurrently.
Old_Goat
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by Old_Goat »

Old_Goat wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:30 pm
TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:22 pm Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
Could almost be viewed as a conflict of interest? Those may be too strong of words...but sure feels like it's a distraction.
Yes Ellis is gone, but if your thought re Hofer, etc. and the small database reports of this young Swedish goalie recently drafted are accurate, then maybe it all works out in the end? But that realistically will require a few years. It certainly could help with the problem of both goalies' contracts expiring concurrently.
To clarify: "Conflict of interest" are my words, not yours. I am not suggesting that you said that.
DoneLurking
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by DoneLurking »

TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:22 pm Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
This whole premise relies on the idea that it's unfathomable to think that the guy who won gold in the last international best on best tournament wouldn't be one of the three goalies in the next international best on best tournament.
ManitobaBlues
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by ManitobaBlues »

What Canadian hockey fans are really waiting to see is whether Armstrong starts leaning on the coaches to play Binnington — because that’s the biggest concern right now. The decision should be on the bench, not from upstairs.

The recent SN Hockey Night in Canada poll kind of says it all: 74% want Darcy Kuemper to start, 21% want Logan Thompson, and only 5% want Binnington. That’s a pretty loud message.

At the end of the day, it’s up to the coaching staff to run the lineup. Armstrong shouldn’t be sticking his fingers into the crease on this one.
theograce
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by theograce »

ManitobaBlues wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:47 pm What Canadian hockey fans are really waiting to see is whether Armstrong starts leaning on the coaches to play Binnington — because that’s the biggest concern right now. The decision should be on the bench, not from upstairs.

The recent SN Hockey Night in Canada poll kind of says it all: 74% want Darcy Kuemper to start, 21% want Logan Thompson, and only 5% want Binnington. That’s a pretty loud message.

At the end of the day, it’s up to the coaching staff to run the lineup. Armstrong shouldn’t be sticking his fingers into the crease on this one.
Overall Binnington was terrible in the 4 Nations as well. Before that, he was terrible for Canada too
somni
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by somni »

Armstrong was interviewed during the IIHF and asked about Binnington being chosen especially with his play this year. He said the coaches were pushing for Binnington to be on the roster, especiallyJon Cooper.

He's one of three. It will be up to the coaches if Binnington is needed.
sdaltons
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by sdaltons »

TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:22 pm Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
Which Canadian goalie deserved the call ahead of Binnington?
dhsux
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by dhsux »

DoneLurking wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:39 pm
TheSolution wrote: 01 Jan 2026 12:22 pm Doug Armstrong has it all on the on the line with Binnington and Team Canada.

He will effectively boost JB’s trade value and win Gold.

OR

He will be the target of justifiably angry countryman and tank JB’s value.

Right now, it’s a question, are JB’s numbers poor bc of the bad team OR is his age 32 season in line with other goaltender dropoffs.

Dough Armstrong has been eyeing this paramount moment where JB’s value + Blues reality + Hofer’s readiness equal the opportune time to trade JB. It could have been two/three years ago to those with a more aggressive approach, but certainly that peak moment now is post Olympics 2026.

This begs to wonder how such a situation came to be.

How is an NHL GM in such a powerful position to boost his own asset ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s certainly a unique situation given the factors: the Blues current timeline to be a contender again, JB’s age, JB’s contract, Hofer’s readiness, a unique chance to boost value for an asset outside of that players NHL team.

This is all very unique with DA, JB and Team Canada involving NHL players at the Olympics. This is more than a multi-angle perfect storm.
This whole premise relies on the idea that it's unfathomable to think that the guy who won gold in the last international best on best tournament wouldn't be one of the three goalies in the next international best on best tournament.
It also assaults Armstrongs character to a ridiculous level. (uh, the agenda)

It also assumes JB will be the starter.

It also assumes DA can just make him the starter no matter what. (Hey Jon...JB goes in tonight).
a smell of green grass
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Re: Doug Armstrong Ethical Dilemma And the Future of NHL GM’s representing their national team

Post by a smell of green grass »

Show me a big NHL sideshow distraction, and I'll show you Armstrong eating lobster at the front table.

4-nations
Olympics
Winter Classic.

The NHL and Armstrong have made some "deal". Other cities get the top rookies, and St Louis gets the sideshows.
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