Doug Armstrong announced he’s stepping down as Team Canada’s general manager, ending a nine-year run that included multiple international championships.
“It’s time for a change,” Armstrong told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic on Monday. “I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it. Obviously, you wish you could go out on top. But it would be selfish to want to do it again. It’s such a great experience, and I think more people should enjoy it.”
Armstrong’s been running Canada’s program since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The 61-year-old guided Canada to championships at that tournament and the 2023 IIHF World Championship. He also led the team to the 4 Nations Face-Off title in 2025. Armstrong previously won two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 as part of Steve Yzerman’s management staff.
His final tournament ended with an Olympic silver medal in Milan Cortina. Armstrong said he’d planned to step down no matter what happened there.
“Team Canada didn’t leave much on the table in that game,” Armstrong said when asked about the overtime loss to Team USA in February. “We played as good of a game as we probably could. I think the expected goals were five-and-a-half to one-and-a-half. I mean, some nights the hockey gods have a different desire for the outcome.”
Armstrong’s also leaving his job as St. Louis Blues general manager on July 1.
He ranks ninth all-time among NHL GMs with 882 wins and a .609 winning percentage. Armstrong won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 and previously captured a championship as assistant GM with the Dallas Stars in 1999.
Alex Steen will take over as Blues GM while Armstrong moves to president of hockey operations.
