Blues' Armstrong addresses report that team had interest in Babcock

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong doesn't sound too pleased after reports surfaced last week that the team had interest in free agent head coach Mike Babcock.

Armstrong announced the return of head coach Ken Hitchcock Tuesday, but took a shot at the media when asked if the Babcock reports would impact his ability to lead the Blues.

"Not really. I think the players live in the modern world of social media," Armstrong told reporters. "When you look over the season, the number of things you read, if 1/10th of that ever came true, I'd be shocked. I think it's the media's job responsibility to sometimes report the facts and sometimes make stuff up because it's good story."

Hitchcock also addressed the Babcock rumors, insisting he was following along and that he and Armstrong were in talks during that time.

"Oh yeah, you can't help but not. I don't care," Kitchcock told reporters. "We have a relationship where we can tell each other anything and there's no consequences. He keeps me informed. The verbal info I get from Doug overrides everything."

Babcock eventually signed an eight-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Both men will now look to put the Babcock news - along with another early postseason exit - behind them.