Per Eklund (E4) - Thomas & LA

[Sudsy 11]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

The Blues shouldn't trade Robert Thomas for the reasons you stated. They have been trying to trade for a 2nd line Center for a while and have been unable to. He'd be more difficult to replace than people think. With one caveat: anybody can be traded if the other team is willing to clearly overpay. I doubt that happens.

[BleedingBleu]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

+1

[2forDiving]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

+1000!!! The Blues’ dearth of 1Cs between Pierre Turgeon and Ryan O’Reilly spanned 18 years. Demitra is the only one that was close and he was more winger than Center. Once you move a 1C you are immediately looking for his replacement and will be spending assets on hope and a prayer, because the next Celebrini, Bedard or Eichel aren’t landing at your doorstep most likely. Especially this year.

[Whatashame]

I don’t think Thomas will be traded unless Armstrong is blown away by an offer. Lots of teams would be interested if Thomas was available but who is willing to blow the Blues away with an offer for a top center who is cost controlled for several years, is still young, productive and has already won a Cup.

You couldn’t find another Thomas at his age, contract and abilities. I don’t think the Blues want to trade him but will someone come along and make them say no thanks!!

Faulk, Schenn, Kyrou……you can make the argument for them if the price is right but Thomas……the price should be high and if you want him you should have to make Armstrong say he’s interested.

[BleedingBleu]

I don’t think Thomas will be traded unless Armstrong is blown away by an offer. Lots of teams would be interested if Thomas was available but who is willing to blow the Blues away with an offer for a top center who is cost controlled for several years, is still young, productive and has already won a Cup.

You couldn’t find another Thomas at his age, contract and abilities. I don’t think the Blues want to trade him but will someone come along and make them say no thanks!!

Faulk, Schenn, Kyrou……you can make the argument for them if the price is right but Thomas……the price should be high and if you want him you should have to make Armstrong say he’s interested.

I agree. It’s largely the result of a proclamation from Armstrong that there are no untouchables. When you hear that as a rival GM, you’re going to inquire about the price for the best players.

If I ever find myself at a chain restaurant, I have no intention to get the place’s ribeye, but I’ll certainly look at the price on their menu. Who knows, the price might be reasonable enough where I justify that over a specialized burger or pasta dish.

If a team can trade Babe Ruth, Bill Russell, or Wayne Gretzky, then why not Robert Thomas? So there will be a lot of check-ins, because teams not in the playoff hunt should be interested.

One last thing. When the Ford Maverick pickup came out, it was the single best sales pitch for an F-150. Interested Maverick buyers flocked to Ford dealerships to look at, test drive, and/or buy the Maverick. They often bought F-150’s instead because of availability (need) or excellent up sales.

Now, I not saying Thomas is the Ford Maverick in this equation, but he’s the conduit to getting people onto the showroom and buying something else you want to move in your inventory.

“Yep, we have a ‘26 Thomas available, but he’s in the shop getting worked on, however, we do have a healthy and durable ‘34 Schenner, a ‘30 Buch with some Center-miles on him, and a ‘29 Suter with a fresh coat of wax. If you’re interested in speed, we have a recently restored ‘27 Rouzy with 12 points in his last 8 games.”

Best case scenario, a team like Detroit offers you the farm. Worst case scenario, you hear what GMs would part with. You can’t know if Montreal would even part with a Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov and/or a Reinbacher if you don’t have something to entice them.

Could you imagine if the Canadians offered you all 3 + a First? I’d question anyone who says “no.” Then there’s the possibility of someone being made available that you could work into a separate deal. “Tell me, how could we build a trade around Reinbacher?”

[zamadoo]

Great post, shortened for space here.

You articulated very well some parts of my thought process that I have not done so well of explaining. I think of a lot of us agree with everything on this page of the thread.

I don't want to trade Thomas - but would definitely consider it for all of the reasons already discussed. Would have to be a blowout, or at minimum a trade in conjunction with other trades that results in us being loaded with young talent and draft picks.

I want to trade Kyrou and Faulk ASAP. All three players have NTCs that would need to work, so perhaps ASAP = this offseason, but I think there's at least a Faulk deal to be made by the TDL.

Trade Thomas by March to a place he agrees? Highly unlikely, and would have to clean out DET or MTL or someone loaded with talent we want. Several of these teams could probably use 2-3 of the players we're discussing.

As you said, maybe DET kicks the tires, and then settles on a Kyrou+Faulk deal that has Danielson+ coming back. OR MTL and Hage. Seattle and Wright. Fun to speculate.

[stanw]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

While I agree with everything you state regarding Robert Thomas as a player, for a team like the Blues to even think about trading someone with his talent leads me to believe that this is more about Robert Thomas the person. None of us knows what goes on inside the locker room. Also he has been part of the core of players that have been here for a few years who have become known as coach killers. How many coaches has he played for since joining the team, then since wearing the A on his jersey, as a leader of this group. This to me is the only thing that makes sense. If you trade him you are not going to get a top line center in his prime years on what now has become a great contract coming back in a trade. A lot of the rumors out there are for future players and or picks, not a NHL player with the skill he has.

[Pierre McGuire]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

Likely aren’t trading him but open for business sure and his name is out there.
Does he fit the Bkues future plans…he might be 29/30 by the time the Blues are back in the playoffs. They might see moving him as an opportunity to speed up the rebuild by acquiring young talent. Again, if they feel he’s not the player that can lead them to where they want to go, maybe that’s why his name is floating around out there. The team is pretty terrible and looks like it will continue to be for a few years

[a smell of green grass]

Thomas is a 2C based on what I hear Army saying...

How long and uncomfortable would it be for Army to demote Thomas from 1C to 2C on the Blues roster? Answer: It would be a long experience, fraught with angst and hurt feelings and de-motivation.

When Thomas is traded, and Thomas slots into 2C on the new team, it will happen overnight. Easy. Least disruptive to Thomas.

This is why Thomas needs to be traded.

[Ziggy3]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

Likely aren’t trading him but open for business sure and his name is out there.
Does he fit the Bkues future plans…he might be 29/30 by the time the Blues are back in the playoffs. They might see moving him as an opportunity to speed up the rebuild by acquiring young talent. Again, if they feel he’s not the player that can lead them to where they want to go, maybe that’s why his name is floating around out there. The team is pretty terrible and looks like it will continue to be for a few years

I really don't think Blues management feels that way, though, right or wrong. I'm guessing they think this season is more a bump in the road than a train off the rails just from the offseason expectations and moves they made, and moving Thomas with that mindset makes zero sense unless they get an offer that simply can't be refused. I'm talking the kind of deal that leaves the rest of the leagues' mouths wide open.

Of course they're listening, though. And I fully expect some kind of shakeup. But I don't think some sort of foundational overhaul is in the plans at all.

[Bluesfan1978]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

Likely aren’t trading him but open for business sure and his name is out there.
Does he fit the Bkues future plans…he might be 29/30 by the time the Blues are back in the playoffs. They might see moving him as an opportunity to speed up the rebuild by acquiring young talent. Again, if they feel he’s not the player that can lead them to where they want to go, maybe that’s why his name is floating around out there. The team is pretty terrible and looks like it will continue to be for a few years

They need to keep Thomas two years so they can try and sign Brady.

[Pierre McGuire]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

Likely aren’t trading him but open for business sure and his name is out there.
Does he fit the Bkues future plans…he might be 29/30 by the time the Blues are back in the playoffs. They might see moving him as an opportunity to speed up the rebuild by acquiring young talent. Again, if they feel he’s not the player that can lead them to where they want to go, maybe that’s why his name is floating around out there. The team is pretty terrible and looks like it will continue to be for a few years

I really don't think Blues management feels that way, though, right or wrong. I'm guessing they think this season is more a bump in the road than a train off the rails just from the offseason expectations and moves they made, and moving Thomas with that mindset makes zero sense unless they get an offer that simply can't be refused. I'm talking the kind of deal that leaves the rest of the leagues' mouths wide open.

Of course they're listening, though. And I fully expect some kind of shakeup. But I don't think some sort of foundational overhaul is in the plans at all.

They should feel that way..this season has been an absolute disaster. They should be reexamining everything from player evaluation, player development, to coaching.

[a smell of green grass]

Let's level set this discussion a bit...

Last year, a 25yo Thomas was 13th overall in scoring among NHL centers. His ppg was 6th overall. Of those 12 centers above him, only Crosby had a better percentage at face-off's, and only McKinnon, Daisaitl and Eichel had a better +/-.

Yes, he had a tough start this season, but he also had surgery to fix something that sounds like it's been bothering him all season.

Simple fact, we're NOT going to get anyone close to a healthy Thomas (production wise) AND he is only the 31st highest paid center in the NHL on a contract that has another 4 years after this season.

Someone PLEASE explain WHY we would trade him?

Likely aren’t trading him but open for business sure and his name is out there.
Does he fit the Bkues future plans…he might be 29/30 by the time the Blues are back in the playoffs. They might see moving him as an opportunity to speed up the rebuild by acquiring young talent. Again, if they feel he’s not the player that can lead them to where they want to go, maybe that’s why his name is floating around out there. The team is pretty terrible and looks like it will continue to be for a few years

I really don't think Blues management feels that way, though, right or wrong. I'm guessing they think this season is more a bump in the road than a train off the rails just from the offseason expectations and moves they made, and moving Thomas with that mindset makes zero sense unless they get an offer that simply can't be refused. I'm talking the kind of deal that leaves the rest of the leagues' mouths wide open.

Of course they're listening, though. And I fully expect some kind of shakeup. But I don't think some sort of foundational overhaul is in the plans at all.

They should feel that way..this season has been an absolute disaster. They should be reexamining everything from player evaluation, player development, to coaching.

Is Pierre my sock puppet?....

I would only add....

The Blues envisioned that in Feb 2026 the organization would be "transitioning Army's winning Blues way" to Steen. They painted a picture of Steen happily carrying a ball a bit further.

Instead, picture a rookie GM, taught the wrong way, that now has to fix the big mell of a hess, utilizing the Army's advisors who will never get the email.

The last thing that we should be doing is eating pasta in Milan.

[bluetunehead]

yeah.. let's trade Thomas.. maybe we'll get a young cost controlled highly skilled center back.. we've always wanted one of those

Highly unlikely he’s moved but there sure seems to be a lot of smoke. If the Blues as an organization have decided he’s not a guy that can lead them going forward, then I’ve got no problem moving him. Gonna take a heck of a return though.

Eh smoke from reputable sources is one thing. Most of the Thomas buzz is from fan blogs throwing s___ at the wall because they saw his name on a trade board.

It’s more than just bloggers. Insiders have discussed the rumors as well. Pretty sure Army is listening and that’s he made it known that he’s available for a price

I'm not suggesting there is no basis. When I said he turned up on a trade board, that's clearly cause Armstrong is out there listening. But Eklund will post anything he hears in the local dive bar bathroom. That's what we don't need to believe. The stuff I keep seeing getting passed around about Minnesota and Wallstedt for instance is just silly.

[2forDiving]

yeah.. let's trade Thomas.. maybe we'll get a young cost controlled highly skilled center back.. we've always wanted one of those

Highly unlikely he’s moved but there sure seems to be a lot of smoke. If the Blues as an organization have decided he’s not a guy that can lead them going forward, then I’ve got no problem moving him. Gonna take a heck of a return though.

Eh smoke from reputable sources is one thing. Most of the Thomas buzz is from fan blogs throwing s___ at the wall because they saw his name on a trade board.

It’s more than just bloggers. Insiders have discussed the rumors as well. Pretty sure Army is listening and that’s he made it known that he’s available for a price

I'm not suggesting there is no basis. When I said he turned up on a trade board, that's clearly cause Armstrong is out there listening. But Eklund will post anything he hears in the local dive bar bathroom. That's what we don't need to believe. The stuff I keep seeing getting passed around about Minnesota and Wallstedt for instance is just silly.

Virtually every rumor for Thomas has been silly. I’ve seen a couple guys come out recently and basically say he’s not available and most of the scuttlebutt is clickbait. Friedman just keeps saying it’s going to be extremely costly and I think it was him that recently responded to one Montreal guy saying every guy you just listed as untouchable is what it is going to take a couple of to get the talks started for Thomas.

[Old_Goat]

LA has 0 Center prospects that could be considered even 2nd line NHL center talent. Their prospects do not line up for a Thomas trade.

They would definitely be a great trade partner and have many nice players that would fit our needs. We don't have to have a center coming back in THIS specific trade. There are other trades to be made that could yield a center.

Make those trades first.

Correct.