St. Louis Blues reveal their asking price for Robert Thomas
Photo credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Blues are listening to offers for Robert Thomas, and head coach Jim Montgomery knows his star center is the ultimate trade deadline prize.
General manager Doug Armstrong is officially open for business. Elliotte Friedman just outlined the asking price, and it is absolutely staggering.
The Blues will not accept a typical package of late draft picks and fringe prospects. Unacceptable. They want an established asset coming back the other way.
Armstrong is demanding a young player with sky-high upside. Specifically, St. Louis wants a prospect younger than Thomas who projects as a true number one center.
If a team cannot offer that, the alternative is a blockbuster swap. Friedman compared it to a Quinn Hughes type deal.
That means securing an elite, young, foundational defenseman. You simply do not see trades of that magnitude happen frequently in the modern salary cap era.
But the astronomical price tag is entirely justified. Thomas is arguably the most attractive name floating around the rumor mill right now.
The Premier Center Target
Finding a 26-year-old top-line center on the trade block is a rare luxury. Teams usually lock these guys up for a full decade.
Thomas brings serious offensive output and elite vision every time he steps onto the ice. His controlled entries consistently drive possession for his line.
Through 42 games this season, he already has 33 points. He is dictating the pace and executing crisp passing through the neutral zone.
He currently holds a -3 rating on a struggling roster. Despite that, his two-way awareness makes him a nightmare to play against defensively.
The Blues are sitting near the bottom of the Central Division with a 21-28-9 record. They are staring down a major organizational reset.
Moving Thomas would completely alter the trajectory of their rebuild. It gives them the cornerstone piece they desperately need to retool the franchise.
Over his NHL career, Thomas has proven he can produce in high-pressure situations. He already has a Stanley Cup ring in his locker room.
Contenders are starving for help down the middle. A rival general manager will need to empty the cupboards to get this deal done. Simple as that.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 28|101 ANSWERS St. Louis Blues reveal their asking price for Robert Thomas Will the Blues trade Robert Thomas before the deadline? | ||
| Yes | 62 | 61.4 % |
| No | 39 | 38.6 % |
| List of polls | ||