St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas has left the organization following announcement and it's personal
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas is taking a leave of absence for a personal matter, creating an immediate headache for head coach Jim Montgomery.
The team explicitly stated the star center is expected to rejoin the active roster this Friday. They need his vision on the ice.
The timing of this temporary departure is absolutely impossible to ignore for anyone following the league. The NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching.
Thomas has been heavily involved in trade rumors for weeks as the front office evaluates the future. Other general managers are undoubtedly monitoring his status.
He has 33 points in 42 games this season. He is single-handedly carrying a significant portion of the offensive output right now.
That solid execution is exactly why contending teams are circling the Blues. They desperately want a player with his elite hockey IQ.
A team looking to make a deep playoff run would gladly absorb his contract to improve their chances at hoisting the Stanley Cup.
A Massive Hole Down the Middle
Montgomery will need to reshuffle his forward lines drastically on this current homestand. Replacing a top-line center is a monumental task for any coaching staff.
Losing a guy who routinely logs 18:58 of average ice time disrupts the entire transition game. The defensive structure will also feel the pressure.
The 26-year-old currently carries a -3 rating on the campaign. That number is slightly deceptive given the overall struggles of the roster around him.
Over his NHL career, he has proven he can drive controlled entries and dictate the pace against the toughest matchups in the Show.
St. Louis must lean heavily on their power play units to maintain scoring pressure in his absence. Crisp passing will be required to keep opposing penalty kills guessing.
Opponents know they have a significantly easier night when a dynamic playmaker like Thomas is away from the rink. He demands constant defensive attention.
The front office must definitively decide if the franchise is selling off assets before the puck drops on deadline day. The speculation is reaching a boiling point.
For now, the locker room priority is strictly giving Thomas the personal time he needs. Hockey naturally takes a backseat to real-world matters.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 25|137 ANSWERS St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas has left the organization following announcement and it's personal Will the St. Louis Blues trade Robert Thomas before the deadline? | ||
| Yes | 105 | 76.6 % |
| No | 32 | 23.4 % |
| List of polls | ||