Surprising Western Conference team emerging as serious trade destination for Robert Thomas

The St. Louis Blues snapped a brutal 10-game road slide Sunday with a 3-1 win over Minnesota, but the real story was the return of Robert Thomas.

After missing 13 games, the elite center didn't look like he'd missed a beat, picking up a primary assist and the empty-net sealer.

Blues head coach Jim Montgomery was clearly impressed by the performance, praising his top center's ability to jump right back into game speed without much practice time.

However, the win felt like a secondary storyline. Thomas is expected to get traded, and rumors are swirling that he could be on the move before Friday's 2 p.m. deadline.

According to new reports, a contender emerged in the derby.

Utah GM Bill Armstrong knows Thomas better than anyone. He was the Blues' director of amateur scouting when the team drafted Thomas 20th overall in 2017. That familiarity makes the Mammoth a logical destination for a franchise looking to end a five-year playoff drought.

St. Louis isn't just dumping a contract, though. Over his NHL career, Thomas has been a model of consistency. Since the 2021-22 season, he has racked up 344 points in 340 games.

His production is undeniable. In fact, following the 4 Nations Face Off earlier this season, he briefly led the entire league with 40 points in just 26 games.

The asking price from Blues GM Doug Armstrong is reportedly astronomical. Expect a demand for three "first-half-of-the-first-round" assets. This could mean a mix of blue-chip prospects like Daniil But or Maveric Lamoureux and high draft picks.

For Utah, Thomas fits the timeline perfectly. At 26, he is a year younger than Clayton Keller and locked into a team-friendly $8.1 million cap hit for four more seasons.

Whether the Blues actually pull the trigger remains the million-dollar question. Trading a point-per-game center who won a Stanley Cup in 2019 is a massive risk. If the return doesn't fuel a rapid retool, it could signal a long, painful rebuild for a frustrated fan base.

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