One day after formalizing the new leadership structure with Doug Armstrong as President of Hockey Operations and Alexander Steen as the franchise’s 12th general manager, the St. Louis Blues announced a wave of front-office promotions and additions on Wednesday that signal a continued emphasis on continuity, experience, and data-driven decision-making.
The moves come as the organization transitions into a new era under Steen while retaining the institutional knowledge that has defined the Blues’ competitive window for more than a decade.
Perhaps the most notable promotion is that of recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Keith Tkachuk, who moves into the role of advisor to the president of hockey operations. Tkachuk, a Blues legend from his playing days in the early-to-mid 2000s, had served as director of recruitment since 2019 after starting as an amateur scout in 2014.
“Big Walt” brings a wealth of playing pedigree, scouting insight, and a fierce competitive edge to the advisory position. His promotion places him reporting directly to Armstrong, providing high-level counsel as the Blues navigate roster construction in a tight salary-cap environment.
Chris Thorburn has been promoted to director of player development. The veteran of a 14-year NHL career, which concluded with the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup victory, rejoined the organization as a development coach in 2021. Thorburn’s deep understanding of the Blues’ culture and his experience transitioning from player to coach make him a natural fit to oversee the next generation of talent.
In scouting, Alex Starovoytov has earned a full-time scout position after serving in a part-time capacity since 2019. Robert Bortuzzo, another member of the 2019 Cup-winning team, returns in a full-time pro scouting role after splitting time in various capacities last season. Bortuzzo’s on-ice experience as a reliable, physical defenseman over 10 seasons with the Blues will be invaluable in evaluating pro talent.
The Blues continue investing in their analytics infrastructure with the promotion of Madison Greenough to senior data engineer. Hired as a hockey data engineer in 2023, Greenough has played a key role in building and maintaining the data pipelines that inform modern hockey decisions.
Jazzmyn Carter, who joined the organization as a hockey operations coordinator in 2021, advances to senior coordinator of hockey operations. Elliott Mondou’s previously announced promotion to assistant to the general manager rounds out the internal advancements.
The club also brought in external expertise with Shane Malloy as director of strategic planning. Malloy brings more than 25 years of hockey scouting and analysis experience, with a strong emphasis on predictive data, performance risk assessment, salary-cap management, trade evaluation, and identifying market inefficiencies. He will report directly to Armstrong.
Additionally, Dr. Ted Barile joins as team chiropractor. A St. Louis area native with deep local hockey roots, Barile also serves in the same capacity for MLS NEXT Pro’s St. Louis CITY2.
Per the announcement, Tkachuk and Malloy will report directly to Armstrong, while the other new roles report to Steen. This setup maintains clear lines of authority during the leadership handoff.
For Blues fans, these moves project stability and forward-thinking. The franchise is blending proven alumni who know what it takes to win in St. Louis with fresh analytical muscle and operational talent. As Steen steps into the GM chair, the front office appears well-positioned to support both short-term competitiveness and long-term roster building.
The Blues will look to translate this strengthened infrastructure into on-ice results as training camp approaches and the 2026-27 season looms.
