(Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images)

Alexander Steen will take the baton from Doug Armstrong and officially become the St. Louis Blues' general manager on July 1, the team confirmed Friday.

Armstrong then will serve as the team's president of hockey operations through 2029, following a transition plan originally announced in June 2024.

'I think Alex is hungry. He's ready,' Armstrong said. 'A new leadership voice at that level is going to be great for the franchise.'

Armstrong, 61, has been with the organization since 2008 and served as the GM since 2010. He was named the NHL general manager of the year in 2012, guided the Blues to the postseason on 11 occasions and led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019.

Steen, 42, was a member of the Blues' Cup-winning team. The forward retired in 2020 after recording 622 points (245 goals, 377 assists) in 1,018 career games with the Maple Leafs and Blues after being selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft.

Steen joined the front office in 2023 and was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in 2024.

Armstrong said Steen has been working as the de facto GM since the second half of the 2025-26 season. The Blues finished fifth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.

'What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you're concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),' Armstrong said. 'Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.'

In addition to helping to prepare for the June 26-27 draft, looming decisions for Steen include contracts for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway, Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, and unrestricted free agents Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl.

--Field Level Media