Blues Lose Two Front Office Staffers as Alex Steen Promoted

Departures of Kevin Maxwell and Peter Chiarelli leave gaps as Steen takes over as GM

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:40pm

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The St. Louis Blues are undergoing significant front office changes, with first-year general manager Alex Steen taking over from Doug Armstrong at the end of this season. As part of the transition, the team is losing two experienced front office staffers - Kevin Maxwell and Peter Chiarelli - who are leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Why it matters

The departures of Maxwell and Chiarelli, who have NHL management experience, could create challenges for the 37-year-old Steen as he assumes the GM role. Steen has been working alongside Armstrong, but the loss of these veteran executives means he'll have to fill those gaps on his own as the Blues look to rebuild.

The details

According to Darren Dreger, Chiarelli is a candidate in the Nashville Predators' interview process, while Maxwell is expected to return to the New York Rangers in a management role. Chiarelli, a former Stanley Cup-winning GM, has had a mixed reputation among Blues fans, but his departure still leaves a knowledge gap that Steen will have to address.

  • Doug Armstrong will be turning over the GM job to Alex Steen at the end of the 2026-27 season.
  • The Blues traded captain Brayden Schenn at the trade deadline, signaling a changing of the guard.

The players

Alex Steen

The 37-year-old former Blues player who is taking over as general manager from Doug Armstrong.

Doug Armstrong

The current Blues General Manager and President of Hockey Operations who is turning over the GM job to Steen.

Kevin Maxwell

A Blues front office staffer who is leaving the team to return to the New York Rangers in a management role.

Peter Chiarelli

A former Blues front office staffer who is a candidate in the Nashville Predators' interview process.

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What they’re saying

“The Blues front office is changing with Kevin Maxwell and Peter Chiarelli leaving the club to pursue other opportunities.”

— Darren Dreger

What’s next

If Chiarelli and Maxwell are leaving the Blues, it will be interesting to see if Chiarelli gets another opportunity to lead a franchise as Barry Trotz's successor in Nashville.

The takeaway

The departures of experienced front office staffers Maxwell and Chiarelli could create challenges for the young, first-time GM Alex Steen as he takes over the Blues' rebuild. Steen will need to quickly fill those gaps and build out his own team to guide the franchise through this transitional period.