Doug Armstrong was named general manager of the Canadian men's team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics on Friday.
The St. Louis Blues' director of hockey operations and general manager, 64, will lead Canada's management team for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Faceoff and future IIHF World Championship Tournament.
“We've been fortunate to work with some great people in Hockey Canada over the years, starting with Bob Nicholson and Steve Yzerman at the Olympics. We understand the challenges ahead. Armstrong said. “We know that hockey will be stronger than ever before around the world and the competition will be great. We can't guarantee victory, but we are confident that we will not only be at the Olympic Games in 2026, but also behind the scenes.” I can vouch for the work ethic and thought process that is there, but the tournament leading up to it is the most important and we will put a product on the ice that all Canadians can be proud of.”
This will be the first time NHL players have returned to the Olympics since 2014, when Canada last won gold. He will only finish 6th at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The first four-nation tournament will be a tournament of the strongest teams, with the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden competing from February 12th to 20th. They will play seven games over a nine-day period in a yet-to-be-named city in North America, one in the United States and one in Canada.
The 2024 IIHF World Championship will be held in the Czech Republic from May 10th to May 26th.
Armstrong said management's goal is to name a GM for the world championship within the next 10 to 14 days and a GM for the Quad-nation around the start of next month's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Told.
“We want to use the World Championship and the playoffs as a scouting barometer,” he said. “So those are the main two. Again, we want to work through it and have time on our side as we name people.”
Retired NHL star Ryan Getzlaf has been named player relations advisor. Getzlaf spent 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the Anaheim Ducks, and was the team's all-time leader in games played (1,157) and points (1,019). He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 and retired after the 2021-22 season.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for myself to grow and learn in the game and get Canada back where it belongs,” Getzlaf said. “My mindset going into this is to try to bridge the gap between players and management. And the fact that I've been practicing that for so long as an NHL captain, that gives me a lot of confidence. It’s about having a hockey club.
“I've been fortunate enough to represent Canada at many different levels and I understand what success is and what it means to wear that jersey every time you have success. I really appreciate this opportunity. looking forward to it.”
Armstrong has been with the Blues since 2008 and was hired as GM in 2010. He is the longest-tenured general manager in the NHL.
St. Louis won its first Stanley Cup in 2019 under Armstrong. Armstrong also won the Cup in 1999 as an assistant GM with the Dallas Stars.
Armstrong began his executive career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1990 and served as Dallas' GM from 2002 to 2007.
He was part of the Hockey Canada management team for the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympics. Canada also won gold in 2010.
Additionally, Armstrong was also part of the Canadian teams that won gold medals at the 2007, 2016, and 2023 World Championships and the 2016 Hockey World Cup.
“Character, integrity, those are the two things that immediately come to mind,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice president of high performance and hockey operations. “Doug's day job is obviously very important and I know how hard he works for the St. Louis Blues, but his work ethic, his ability to connect with people, especially with our program. Experience and understanding what the players need is important.''I think that can make him stand out from a lot of other players in order to win. ”
In addition to his NHL success, Getzlaf won gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the 2016 Hockey World Cup.
“The NHL has a wealth of experienced and successful Canadian executives, and Doug is the perfect person to lead the men's national team and build a management group from a talented group of executives in each competition through 2026. “We believe that the Olympic Games will be held at the Olympic Games,” said Pat McLaughlin, Hockey Canada's chief operating officer. “Doug and Ryan both bring distinguished careers and years of NHL and international experience to Canadian hockey, and Scott has contributed to the success of the Canadian national team at all levels for more than 20 years.”
NHL.com Senior Draft Writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
