There is only one more day until the St. Louis Blues are back on the ice, and the final sprint of the 2025-26 season is underway. Right now, all eyes are glued on General Manager Doug Armstrong, and what kind of moves he makes with the Trade Deadline just a few days away.
One of the more interesting trade pieces is Blues center Robert Thomas, who has already been linked with a rumor consisting of the Los Angeles Kings. Now, it seems like another Stanley Cup contender is linked to No. 18, and is quietly rovering around the Blues' most valuable forward.
Who is it, and would it make sense for the Blues front office to pursue it?
Detroit is zeroing in on Thomas
Per Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, the Detroit Red Wings are looking at Thomas as their answer for a playoff run. They have also been linked to Jordan Kyrou as well, as he is another valuable trade piece that might be up for grabs at the trade deadline, if the Blues are willing to completely nuke their core group and start fresh.
Detroit would be a great spot for Thomas, as he will slide right into that 2C role behind Dylan Larkin, and the two could potentially be a solid 1-2 punch for a deep Red Wings playoff run. They are currently 33-19-6 for 72 points, which is good for the second position of the Atlantic Division.
Obviously, Thomas is going to have to waive his No-Trade Clause to go to Detroit, and Armstrong is going to have to love the return, as this is giving away the Blues' face of their franchise. It might look right on paper, but there is a lot of red tape attached to this rumored move in the making.
What can the Blues possibly get in return?
The Blues are potentially looking to rebuild this team from the ground up. The current core is likely, but not absolutely, be moved across the NHL to other teams in hopes of bringing in younger talent and draft capital. This team has a strong pipeline, but they have some time to wait before they all arrive in the 'Lou.
For Thomas, first-round picks are a must, as well as top-prospect. Dare I say, an NHLer might also be needed to sweeten the deal for Armstrong to agree. A lot to ask, but Thomas is certainly worth the investment.