ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - On the day after the NHL Trade Deadline came to a close, St. Louis Blues president of hockey operations/general manager Doug Armstrong says his team isn't one player away from becoming a Stanley Cup front runner. He says a deal to push them past other Central Division teams wasn't there this year, but believes this current roster is setup well beat playoff teams.
St. Louis dealt a sixth-round pick to Anaheim for defenseman Micahel Del Zotto Monday. The Nashville Predators added couple of top forwards in Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund. The Winnipeg Jets also beefed up their lineup with forwards Kevin Hayes, Matt Hendricks and Par Lindholm, and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu.
"(Nashville and Winnipeg) are where we were maybe four or five years ago, they're battled-tested with a veteran group and they're paying to go for the Stanely Cup immediately. We're not there. I didn't think there was a player we could add that could make us go to favorites against these teams," Armstrong said. "I think we can beat these teams, I think the way we're set up the way we're going to beat them is with the players that were already here."
You can see more of his comments in the video above.
Armstrong wasn't ready to part with any prospects this trade deadline and says he'll be more willing to trade away prospects next year, if the team has a "solid season."
Army also gave some roster updates, as Alex Steen is under the weather and forward Sammy Blais has been recalled. Forward David Perron was also on the ice today and skating with the team, he's still day-to-day as well as Brayden Schenn who did not skate, Tuesday.