thomas value has dropped per mtl fans

[sdaltons]

Why do we care what Montreal fans think? This is less informative than an eklund rumor.

[Red7]

Thomas is the last player that should be traded — and if it ever happens, it better be a franchise-altering move. I’m talking a true hockey trade, not picks and prospects. You don’t move a player like that unless you’re getting a cornerstone back.

If anyone should go first, it’s Buchnevich. That’s going to be Steen’s biggest challenge, because that contract is brutal to move. Good player, but the term and money are going to scare teams off unless the Blues eat salary or attach sweeteners.

If he's a good player, why move him?

I think he said it...that contract is brutal. I've been clear that I think he's a declining player. Is he still good...depends on interpretation, and I'm not going to argue that at length with everyone again. The contract though is an albatross and always was going to be one, as Army overpaid in both $$$ and term.

Facts: Buch was above a point per game producer his first two years with the Blues. Since then he has dropped in the last three seasons to 0.78, 0.75, and currently trending to 0.59 this season. That is a better gauge than point totals, as it accounts for games played/injuries. Points alone he's gone from a high of 76 to 67 to 63, to 57, to currently 39, but on pace for somewhere around 48-52 depending on his finish this season. Ok stats, but not for the price of his contract.

Here's the sticking point with that contract....real dollars.
Contract: He's earning $8.0 million this year, $6.0 million next year, then $10m, $11m, $8m, and finally $5m. He has full NTC until that last two years which moves to M-NTC. Those middle 3 years are absolutely atrocious for real money a team has to spend to acquire what will continue to be a player in decline who does nothing spectacular but is rather a middle six center/winger. That makes it "brutal to move" as Manitoba put it.

So we are basically stuck with declining player in the 1st year of a 6-year deal that pays him a LOT of real $$, while his production goes down. Maybe he rebounds. Some are betting on that. I'm not. Steen didn't. Schenn isn't. Many other examples in the league didn't. Whether somebody thinks he's good or not is irrelevant. He isn't worth that deal and the league knows it.

The contract is brutal, but by the time the Blues will actually need that cap space (2 yes? 3?) it'll be much easier to move.

They moved Lehtera while upgrading to Schenn, after all.

They paid a price to move Lehtera....not the greatest example. And yes, any contract can be moved when you give up valuable assets to do so. Kevin Hayes comes to mind for recency bias. Simply waiving him and having someone take him on would be the way to go so you don't have to pay to send him somewhere, whether now or in the future.

And sorry for getting so OT in a Thomas thread. I'll shut up and move on now.

Actually, waiving Hayes would not have helped. The Hayes deal, with the pick attached, acquired the pick necessary to sign Broberg.

[Nublues69]

Why do we care what Montreal fans think? This is less informative than an eklund rumor.

honestly what the hel else is going on right now. its just funny to see how delusional some fan bases can be.

[a smell of green grass]

Thomas is the last player that should be traded — and if it ever happens, it better be a franchise-altering move. I’m talking a true hockey trade, not picks and prospects. You don’t move a player like that unless you’re getting a cornerstone back.

If anyone should go first, it’s Buchnevich. That’s going to be Steen’s biggest challenge, because that contract is brutal to move. Good player, but the term and money are going to scare teams off unless the Blues eat salary or attach sweeteners.

If he's a good player, why move him?

I believe it all started with this idiot...

Our best players are being outplayed by the other team's best players
- Douglas Armstrong February 2025

[aslord]

Thomas is the last player that should be traded — and if it ever happens, it better be a franchise-altering move. I’m talking a true hockey trade, not picks and prospects. You don’t move a player like that unless you’re getting a cornerstone back.

If anyone should go first, it’s Buchnevich. That’s going to be Steen’s biggest challenge, because that contract is brutal to move. Good player, but the term and money are going to scare teams off unless the Blues eat salary or attach sweeteners.

If he's a good player, why move him?

I think he said it...that contract is brutal. I've been clear that I think he's a declining player. Is he still good...depends on interpretation, and I'm not going to argue that at length with everyone again. The contract though is an albatross and always was going to be one, as Army overpaid in both $$$ and term.

Facts: Buch was above a point per game producer his first two years with the Blues. Since then he has dropped in the last three seasons to 0.78, 0.75, and currently trending to 0.59 this season. That is a better gauge than point totals, as it accounts for games played/injuries. Points alone he's gone from a high of 76 to 67 to 63, to 57, to currently 39, but on pace for somewhere around 48-52 depending on his finish this season. Ok stats, but not for the price of his contract.

Here's the sticking point with that contract....real dollars.
Contract: He's earning $8.0 million this year, $6.0 million next year, then $10m, $11m, $8m, and finally $5m. He has full NTC until that last two years which moves to M-NTC. Those middle 3 years are absolutely atrocious for real money a team has to spend to acquire what will continue to be a player in decline who does nothing spectacular but is rather a middle six center/winger. That makes it "brutal to move" as Manitoba put it.

So we are basically stuck with declining player in the 1st year of a 6-year deal that pays him a LOT of real $$, while his production goes down. Maybe he rebounds. Some are betting on that. I'm not. Steen didn't. Schenn isn't. Many other examples in the league didn't. Whether somebody thinks he's good or not is irrelevant. He isn't worth that deal and the league knows it.

I don't think he's good and believe he should be moved immediately if possible, but the poster claimed he was a good player. The contract is not bad for a good player and if you believe he is good, should be happy with him.