One of the potentially colossal deals this offseason could be the one to blow the doors off all moves. That deal could involve St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas.
Thomas was part of the never-ending churn of the rumor mill this past season. Thomas was linked to just about every contending club this past year, particularly as the season headed towards the NHL trade deadline.
In the end, Thomas stayed put. But there is no question that the chatter will likely pick up against as the playoff field begins to dwindle.
One of the teams that was particularly involved in Thomas trade talk was the Utah Mammoth. Utah was reportedly close to landing Thomas, but backed off due to the Blues’ exorbitant price for the top-line center.
But with the Mammoth flaming out in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, one has to think they would have plenty of reasons to pursue a star like Thomas.
Also, teams looking to make a major shake-up, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, or New York Rangers, might look at Thomas and see a potential cornerstone piece moving forward.
The question would be, however, would any team interested in Thomas be willing to pay the price? Even if teams were willing, not many could afford it.
Blues to Make Killing in Thomas Trade
The Blues’ asking price for Thomas is nothing to sneeze at. The chatter suggested that St. Louis wanted a first-round draft pick, a high-end prospect, and other complementary pieces. In a nutshell, the Quinn Hughes trade would be a good template to keep in mind.
That said, not many teams can cough up the Blues’ asking price. Even if a club was willing to pay up, it’s tough to envision a club having three to four high-quality pieces to make a deal like that happen.
But if the Blues were to find a suitable trade partner, they would stand to make a killing. Getting a haul like the Canucks did for Hughes, plus St. Louis’ emerging young core, could make the team a contender almost immediately.
Fans Shouldn’t Bet on Thomas Trade
Betting on a Thomas trade happening wouldn’t necessarily be a good idea. While there’s always the chance that some team may pony up, the likelihood seems a little slim. Thomas holds a full no-trade clause.
As such, the 26-year-old controls where he can go. That makes the situation challenging, especially if one of the clubs wanting to acquire the former 20th-overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft isn’t one he fancies.
There is no indication that Thomas has submitted a list of teams he’d be willing to go to. Moreover, there is no inkling that Thomas may force the Blues to make a deal the way that Artemi Panarin forced the New York Rangers.
If anything, it seems that Thomas is content with staying in St. Louis. And that’s something that Blues fans may feel happy about. While there is always the possibility of something happening, the odds may not be in favor of a trade. But that’s something that could change once next season rolls around.
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