Robert Thomas

[stanw]

I believe he is part of the core of coach killers on this roster. He is the player that I think by moving that you can get a good player back and change the room at the same time.
I would not move him for picks or prospects -- rather a hockey trade,player for player.
The player I would like to see the Blues try for is Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho.
He is a similar type of player, who has been with the Canes for about as long as Thomas has been with the Blues. Carolina is like the Blues, the team always seems like they are missing something.maybe a core change in their room shakes things up also.The money is close, Aho makes slightly more, but not so much that a deal could not be worked out. I think a change of scenery would benefit both players.
I would be open to other centers also, I was just pointing out a player I have also liked, plays a similar style as Thomas. Their numbers are kind of close but Aho is more of a goal scorer then Thomas.

[hockey jedi]

I appreciate your opinion. However, I don't think Thomas is a coach killer. He has been talked about being a future captain many times on this forum. I never felt like he is an elite center, but I believe he is very good. Having another top two center, a player like him, would take a lot of pressure off of him. I believe his production would get back to being a point a game player. I don't want to trade him. I'm hoping Dvo can blossom quickly. We need a center that is above average on faceoffs and puts up 100+ points per year.

[11WSChamps]

The main problem with Thomas is he doesn't have a complement at center.

He has to lead the PP, center the top line, lead the penalty kill, win crucial face offs, be the top defensive center, lead by example and God knows what else.

He's not a super star, probably not even a house hold name among a lot of hockey fans.

When they get that other center if ever Thomas will shine a lot brighter.

[MrPostman01]

At about the 1/3rd marker he is on pace for a mere 12 goals as is forum whipping boy Buchnevich.

The only way to prove the coach is wrong is by outperforming expectations on the ice.

[Harry S Deals]

The main problem with Thomas is he doesn't have a complement at center.

He has to lead the PP, center the top line, lead the penalty kill, win crucial face offs, be the top defensive center, lead by example and God knows what else.

He's not a super star, probably not even a house hold name among a lot of hockey fans.

When they get that other center if ever Thomas will shine a lot brighter.

Yes great points. Thomas is a #1 center in that second tier down from the handful of great NHL centers. Thomas currently doesn't have a scoring winger or a legit NHL 2nd center either. Often when Thomas gains the zone there is no one to pass too too much space no plays available. At the same time Thomas should be attacking the net more to create

[Backesdraft]

The main problem with Thomas is he doesn't have a complement at center.

He has to lead the PP, center the top line, lead the penalty kill, win crucial face offs, be the top defensive center, lead by example and God knows what else.

He's not a super star, probably not even a house hold name among a lot of hockey fans.

When they get that other center if ever Thomas will shine a lot brighter.

Your first sentence is a billion percent correct. Even the best centers in the league shined brightest with a complimentary piece. McD/Drai, Crosby/Malkin, Stamkos/Kuch, Gretz/Mess…the list goes on and on.

And no, I’m not saying Thomas is as good as any of the players I just mentioned. Just saying even the greatest players do better when they have some help. Thomas’ counterparts just haven’t ever been up to par. Buch, Kyrou, Schenn…none of them are enough to help shoulder the load. Maybe Snuggy might be one day or Dvo down the road but they aren’t close to that yet.

[hotrivets]

Our 1C is #60- yes I know he missed a few games. He is a great passer and capable scorer but he does not lead the team. How do you compare him with these top 10 in that ability?

https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?repor ... ageSize=50

[Harry York 37]

I believe he is part of the core of coach killers on this roster. He is the player that I think by moving that you can get a good player back and change the room at the same time.
I would not move him for picks or prospects -- rather a hockey trade,player for player.
The player I would like to see the Blues try for is Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho.
He is a similar type of player, who has been with the Canes for about as long as Thomas has been with the Blues. Carolina is like the Blues, the team always seems like they are missing something.maybe a core change in their room shakes things up also.The money is close, Aho makes slightly more, but not so much that a deal could not be worked out. I think a change of scenery would benefit both players.
I would be open to other centers also, I was just pointing out a player I have also liked, plays a similar style as Thomas. Their numbers are kind of close but Aho is more of a goal scorer then Thomas.

I hate to agree, but I do.

He was the other half of the lazy 8.125 million by 8 years duo who were enough to get Berube fired.
If he hadn’t taken Kyrou’s side… it would have ended differently.

Berube may have needed to go, that is not my point. The point is that two “bonus babies” were seen - by Armstrong- as a hill he was prepared to die on. And I think that decision set the standard by which Kyrou , and to a lesser degree Thomas, were going to be held to. RT has five times the compete of Kyrou, for sure, but he doesn’t have as much fire as a contending team needs in their top offensive player. Would it be nice if he had more help? Of course. Kyrou SHOULD be the guy, but he is a soul-killer. When two kids don’t like being told to play hard, smart, and to backcheck, and Management takes their side over the Chief’s…. Competing just doesn’t seem that important does it?

[netboy65]

I believe he is part of the core of coach killers on this roster. He is the player that I think by moving that you can get a good player back and change the room at the same time.
I would not move him for picks or prospects -- rather a hockey trade,player for player.
The player I would like to see the Blues try for is Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho.
He is a similar type of player, who has been with the Canes for about as long as Thomas has been with the Blues. Carolina is like the Blues, the team always seems like they are missing something.maybe a core change in their room shakes things up also.The money is close, Aho makes slightly more, but not so much that a deal could not be worked out. I think a change of scenery would benefit both players.
I would be open to other centers also, I was just pointing out a player I have also liked, plays a similar style as Thomas. Their numbers are kind of close but Aho is more of a goal scorer then Thomas.

I hate to agree, but I do.

He was the other half of the lazy 8.125 million by 8 years duo who were enough to get Berube fired.
If he hadn’t taken Kyrou’s side… it would have ended differently.

Berube may have needed to go, that is not my point. The point is that two “bonus babies” were seen - by Armstrong- as a hill he was prepared to die on. And I think that decision set the standard by which Kyrou , and to a lesser degree Thomas, were going to be held to. RT has five times the compete of Kyrou, for sure, but he doesn’t have as much fire as a contending team needs in their top offensive player. Would it be nice if he had more help? Of course. Kyrou SHOULD be the guy, but he is a soul-killer. When two kids don’t like being told to play hard, smart, and to backcheck, and Management takes their side over the Chief’s…. Competing just doesn’t seem that important does it?

No, he doesn’t have 5x the compete. Have you watched a game lately? Thomas is as disinterested as it gets

[Harry S Deals]

I believe he is part of the core of coach killers on this roster. He is the player that I think by moving that you can get a good player back and change the room at the same time.
I would not move him for picks or prospects -- rather a hockey trade,player for player.
The player I would like to see the Blues try for is Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho.
He is a similar type of player, who has been with the Canes for about as long as Thomas has been with the Blues. Carolina is like the Blues, the team always seems like they are missing something.maybe a core change in their room shakes things up also.The money is close, Aho makes slightly more, but not so much that a deal could not be worked out. I think a change of scenery would benefit both players.
I would be open to other centers also, I was just pointing out a player I have also liked, plays a similar style as Thomas. Their numbers are kind of close but Aho is more of a goal scorer then Thomas.

I hate to agree, but I do.

He was the other half of the lazy 8.125 million by 8 years duo who were enough to get Berube fired.
If he hadn’t taken Kyrou’s side… it would have ended differently.

Berube may have needed to go, that is not my point. The point is that two “bonus babies” were seen - by Armstrong- as a hill he was prepared to die on. And I think that decision set the standard by which Kyrou , and to a lesser degree Thomas, were going to be held to. RT has five times the compete of Kyrou, for sure, but he doesn’t have as much fire as a contending team needs in their top offensive player. Would it be nice if he had more help? Of course. Kyrou SHOULD be the guy, but he is a soul-killer. When two kids don’t like being told to play hard, smart, and to backcheck, and Management takes their side over the Chief’s…. Competing just doesn’t seem that important does it?

Are you implying that Army should have traded Thomas vs extending him

[Harry York 37]

I believe he is part of the core of coach killers on this roster. He is the player that I think by moving that you can get a good player back and change the room at the same time.
I would not move him for picks or prospects -- rather a hockey trade,player for player.
The player I would like to see the Blues try for is Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho.
He is a similar type of player, who has been with the Canes for about as long as Thomas has been with the Blues. Carolina is like the Blues, the team always seems like they are missing something.maybe a core change in their room shakes things up also.The money is close, Aho makes slightly more, but not so much that a deal could not be worked out. I think a change of scenery would benefit both players.
I would be open to other centers also, I was just pointing out a player I have also liked, plays a similar style as Thomas. Their numbers are kind of close but Aho is more of a goal scorer then Thomas.

Not at all.

DA should have backed up his [fork]ing head coach.

Kyrou’s glaring ( to even casual fans) careless and uninterested play had cost the Blues dearly in the days coming up to his public dust up with Chief. It was obvious that Kyrou was not going to ever listen to what Berube was preaching.
There were other options to deal with this. Besides firing Berube. Benching Kyrou until he figuring it the [fork] out was one of them. An outright suspension was another. Putting
I hate to agree, but I do.

He was the other half of the lazy 8.125 million by 8 years duo who were enough to get Berube fired.
If he hadn’t taken Kyrou’s side… it would have ended differently.

Berube may have needed to go, that is not my point. The point is that two “bonus babies” were seen - by Armstrong- as a hill he was prepared to die on. And I think that decision set the standard by which Kyrou , and to a lesser degree Thomas, were going to be held to. RT has five times the compete of Kyrou, for sure, but he doesn’t have as much fire as a contending team needs in their top offensive player. Would it be nice if he had more help? Of course. Kyrou SHOULD be the guy, but he is a soul-killer. When two kids don’t like being told to play hard, smart, and to backcheck, and Management takes their side over the Chief’s…. Competing just doesn’t seem that important does it?

Are you implying that Army should have traded Thomas vs extending him

No.
DA just caved and talked about the kid gloves needed to handle the new generation of bonus babies.
There were other options, but DA just caved.

Benching Kyrou until he figured it the [fork] out was one.
A brief outright suspension ( surely to be appealed by the Union) was another.

Putting 58 year old Craig Berube and Kyrou in a ring with 8 ounce gloves would’ve been my favorite at the time.

Thomas was only an accomplice, but his support of Kyrou about “Mean Old Chief” made this sea change of attitude happen, and set the “character” of the St Louis Blues going forward.

[somni]

Thomas is hurt. He took 2 days off for maintenance and sat in the last half of the erd when the last game was out of reach.

As mentioned, he needs another center to compliment him. He plays in almost every situation. And teams can key on him.

And no, I don't believe he is part of any locker room issue.

[DawgDad]

This is nuts. Thomas has been beat up and to another poster's point he's being called on to do ALL the heavy lifting and dirty work at center. He's not getting any help from his linemates and very little from other centers.

The Blues, all of them, have been beat down physically and all season they have been wandering in the wilderness mentally. The pressure of mistakes blowing up in their face is multiplied by the frustration of not scoring, constantly playing on the edge. A small few are handling this better than others, but they are not the real difference makers.

[Harry York 37]

This is nuts. Thomas has been beat up and to another poster's point he's being called on to do ALL the heavy lifting and dirty work at center. He's not getting any help from his linemates and very little from other centers.

The Blues, all of them, have been beat down physically and all season they have been wandering in the wilderness mentally. The pressure of mistakes blowing up in their face is multiplied by the frustration of not scoring, constantly playing on the edge. A small few are handling this better than others, but they are not the real difference makers.

Thomas’ play is not the issue. He is the Franchise’s Forward at this point. He needs to lead.

His decision to side with Kyrou when Chief denanded the least semblance of unselfish and competitive play was appalling. He seems too content with collecting his paycheck and not ruffling the feathers of his friends.

We are, outside of our bottom six and Binner…. A gutless and complacent outfit.
Pride is distant memory.

[Russdv14]

I think I’m in the Harry Deals and Backesdraft camp here. His wingers aren’t carrying the load. Too many missed passes & poor shots too, but I think Buchnevich is coming around unless he gets into a funk again mentally. Like Harry said, not only does a player like Thomas need to shoot more but the shots can’t be more strategic instead of flying out of the zone. The wingers just are not getting in front of the net often enough and that’s not Thomas’s game. He also is playing injured

[Kilokaai]

This is nuts. Thomas has been beat up and to another poster's point he's being called on to do ALL the heavy lifting and dirty work at center. He's not getting any help from his linemates and very little from other centers.

The Blues, all of them, have been beat down physically and all season they have been wandering in the wilderness mentally. The pressure of mistakes blowing up in their face is multiplied by the frustration of not scoring, constantly playing on the edge. A small few are handling this better than others, but they are not the real difference makers.

Regarding the last sentence, the players less affected at the moment are the players whose role is judged by effort/tenacity which is easy to see. Their role is much simpler to be successful for a reason. The core players are leaned on when results aren’t guaranteed and that where all that pressure is at the moment.

You could make the argument that is what they get paid to do and it is fair to an extent. However, I still think if execution and goaltending was better the first 15 games of the season that we would be in a very different spot right now. Whole team is soul searching at the moment but even when they play like dogs we can’t finish (and the lack of confidence remains an issue).

You can’t play 110% for 82 games, it is not possible.