Peter Chiarelli already being linked to a new NHL team.

If you ever needed more proof that the National Hockey League is largely an old boys club, look no further than this latest report. 

St. Louis Blues insider Jeremy Rutherford has just dropped a potential bombshell this evening and I must admit it is a bombshell that I, perhaps foolishly, did not see coming this quickly. Rutherford is reporting that former Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli has been spotted in the St. Louis Blues management booth for the second straight game, with Chiarelli being accompanied by St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

It would obviously seem like there is something going on at this time, however Rutherford did admit that he is currently unsure of what role Chiarelli is currently occupying or what role he could potentially occupy within the organization moving forward. He did however correctly point out that Doug Armstrong has a history of bringing people who are in Chiarelli's current position, citing previous examples like former Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey and former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippet.

Chiarelli of course was recently fired by the Edmonton Oilers organization after doing what is now viewed as a largely terrible job of managing that team, even by the Oilers usual poor standards. It is perhaps for that reason that this seems like such a shocking move on the part of Doug Armstrong. Although Chiarelli clear must have some value as a general manager if he continues to be hired around the National Hockey League, it has become abundantly clear that his ability to evaluate talent is almost non existent. From the decision to let players like Jordan Eberle go to the signing of players like aging veteran Milan Lucic and most notably to the decision to trade forward Taylor Hall for defenseman Adam Larson it is clear that Chiarelli is misguided in his judgments. 

What is even worse is that his previous tenure as general manager of the Boston Bruins was also marred by controversy in spite of the fact that he picked up a Stanley Cup Championship time there. The infamous trade involving forward Tyler Seguin will likely loom over Chiarelli forever much in the way the Taylor Hall trade will, so you really have to scratch your head and wonder what it is that Armstrong sees in him here. 

Whatever it might be, something tells me the St. Louis Blues fan base isn't going to see it the same way.

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