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Doug Armstrong has enjoyed more than his fair share of success while transforming the St. Louis Blues from what they were in to what they are today. From rebuilding cellar dweller to a perennial playoff team. One that’s so very close to opening the window of opportunity that separates them from their current stature and Stanley Cup contention their face is smashed against it.
Calculated and patient the General Manager has been and it’s paid off.
Careful planning and seed planting led to major trades to acquire key long term assets like Kevin Shattenkirk Chris Stewart in return for displaced ones like Erik Johnson. To capitalize on another team’s need to divest by converting depth in one area to address needs in another like moving tweener defenseman like David Warsofsky and Mark Cundari in return for Vladimir Sobotka and Jay Bouwmeester, respectively. Though he wasn’t officially in charge when it happened, but it was his deal, shipping center Lars Eller to Montreal for Jaroslav Halak falls in to that category as well.
From the free agent perspective he’s been deft at signing without overpaying to meet perceive value. Market driven or otherwise. Signing home grown talent promoted to rock star status before they actually earned it like TJ Oshie and Patrik Berglund to “prove me” contracts. Thus earning what they had not been forced to yet. Not overpaying for importing external veteran influence and low hanging fruit like Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Arnott, Wade Redden, and Brian Elliott has allowed flexibility. The kind that allows him to retain important leadership group members like David Backes, Alex Steen, and Barret Jackman.
In cumulative effect Armstrong has been able to construct a team that meets the franchise’s tight budgetary constraints and win enough games to qualify for the post season. Even win a division championship.
Something his predecessor couldn’t.
But what makes Armstrong as proficient as he is may have produced the first that gives him a first. A black eye.
As discussed with the media Wednesday, top defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is without a contract and only a week or so remaining between now and the start of training camp.
Long story short (paraphrasing)…
Armstrong is comfortable waiting and confident when Pietrangelo plays again he’ll have the bluenote on his chest. Enough room is available in the budget and under the cap to prevent a rival peer from poaching the promising young defender.
While at Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp the player iterated the same. All’s been quiet otherwise from agent Don Meehan’s camp.
Publically everyone that needs to be on the same page is on the same page. So much so I wouldn’t be surprised if the group got together over the holiday weekend and sang Kumbaya around the camp fire.
I'll go ahead and ask the dumb question. If its all going the right way, why is the deal not done?
Armstrong alluded to the reason, but no more than to say its the minor details of the business side of things being worked out. The underbelly of the game he called it.
Sure, contracts take time. Some more than others. Some less. But shouldn't there be a priority put on Pietrangelo's? Of course there is, but enough to say that the most important assets the team has, the best overall player they have, should be taken care of as soon as possible. Before the majority of others if not first? If there is any player worth not haggling a deal to death over is the one that will keep No. 27 in blue, white, and yellow for the next 8 years?
I'm not going to point the finger and fault Armstrong for resolving other negotiations before Pietrangelo's, but come on.
Please pardon the emotional digression. Someone needs to say it. The whole situation has largely gotten a free pass when it doesn't deserve one.
Patience is a virtue. One lost to many. But excessive reliance upon it in all situations is not. Flexibility to respond appropriately is more desirable than patience.
Maybe we just don't know the full story. We probably don't and won't. Not at least as long as Armstrong works to control public perception. But from what we do know its all sun shine and lollipops. This close to the start of the season not having your best player ready to go, when signs indicate there really isn't a good reason not to be, makes it appear patience won't pay off. There is inflexibility when there shouldn't be.
A blemish on an award winning performance.
How big of one?
We'll soon find the starting point. Camp opens soon.
Thanks for reading.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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