Team Canada lost the gold medal game to Team USA at the 2026 Milan Olympics. Now, general manager Doug Armstrong is retiring from his post with the St Louis Blues, opening the international job as well. According to Pierre LeBrun, Kyle Dubas, Jim Nill, Don Sweeney, and Julian Brisebois have emerged as candidates.
“Kyle Dubas, Julien BriseBois, Jim Nill and Don Sweeney are obvious candidates. All worked with Armstrong in the Team Canada Milan management team. What remains undecided is whether it will be the same person for the [2028] World Cup and the 2030 Winter Olympics or if those are separate jobs,” LeBrun reported.
Armstrong led Canada to a 4 Nations Face-Off championship, but the team fell short in Milan. The next GM has a big task ahead with an emerging US team looking for its second straight title.
Brisebois is the most accomplished GM on the list, winning two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He learned under Steve Yzerman in Tampa and pulled off the final moves to get them over the hump. With Jon Cooper likely remaining the coach, it would make sense for Team Canada to be an all-Lightning group.
Kyle Dubas brought the Pittsburgh Penguins to the playoffs last year with no expectations. But would his failures from his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs hold more weight in Canada? Considering the massive overhaul Pittsburgh is about to undergo, it may make sense for the 40-year-old Dubas to wait until the next opening to run Team Canada.
Jim Nill has won the NHL’s GM of the Year award a record three times for his work with the Dallas Stars. While the Stars have not lifted the Stanley Cup, they have built a legit contender in a non-traditional market. Maybe that new way of thinking is what Canada needs after the Milan disaster.
Finally, Don Sweeney could complete quite the turnaround if he landed this job. Boston Bruins fans wanted him gone after he traded Brad Marchand, but a playoff berth in 2026 changed their tune.
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