The St. Louis Blues are well on their way with their accelerated retooling process. The foundation has been laid for a new core group, filled with a ton of young and promising players. As of now, the old guard has been traded away, with very few members still remaining.
One of those old core players is still around and has now become the face of the franchise. Robert Thomas has had this team built around him, with the hope that he can bring this team back into the competitive fold once the growing pains have ended.
Can he finally begin to get some recognition for a trophy he has never been close to getting? Can Thomas be a Hart Trophy nominee soon? Let's talk about it.
Thomas for Hart?
For the first time in a long time, Thomas now has some pretty special players on both wings. Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway complement his game so well, and if the final few weeks of the 2025-26 season are a preview of what is to come next season, we are all in for a treat.
In terms of making a lasting impression on the rest of the NHL world, as well as the individuals who vote for the Most Valuable Player award, Thomas has a steep hill to climb. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Artemi Panarin, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Eichel, and on and on and on are players who have received votes in the past or won the Hart Trophy.
Still, ruling out Thomas based on opposing competition is not the end-all in this conversation. If he can rally this team into a competitive position at the end of 2026-27, eclipse a 100-point season, and really set himself apart from every other first-line center in the NHL, there is a chance he could get on the ballot.
Thomas has the tools around him with No. 21 and No. 81 to really make a difference in 2026-27, and it will be up to him to live up to these newfounded expectations. This upcoming 84-game campaign will be a very interesting one for the Blues, and Thomas is going to be the player that makes, or breaks, the year.
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