December breakout stars: One St. Louis Blues player is heating up

The St. Louis Blues look like they’ve gotten some new life injected into them. We can credit coach Jim Montgomery, but also one particular player.

Dec 5, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) looks on against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images
Dec 5, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) looks on against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images | Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

Are you falling in love yet with the St. Louis Blues? Hey, the Blues have been on a roll since they hired Jim Montgomery and have gotten healthier, and they’re looking more like playoff contenders as opposed to bottom-dwellers roughly a quarter of the way through the 2024-25 campaign.

At the beginning of November, I had such little faith in the Blues that I said they were bound to sink to the bottom of the Central, what with a first-year coach in Drew Bannister and endless injuries. It’s amazing how quickly narratives can change, and the Blues may be a player or two away from really making noise in the Western Conference. 

No, I won’t get crazy bold here and claim that this team will compete with the Winnipeg Jets or the Minnesota Wild. That would be reckless, actually, but vying for a spot between third and fourth place? Hey, I’m not putting anything past them. 

One big reason for the Blues upsurge comes from defenseman Colton Parayko, whose legendary season keeps getting better. But Parayko’s not the only one making waves in Gateway City, as Robert Thomas has more than gotten back into the groove and is putting together a memorable year. 

Robert Thomas and the St. Louis Blues are simultaneously heating up

Robert Thomas has played in just 15 games this season as of Saturday afternoon, with four goals and 11 assists. This puts the star Blue on a point-per-game pace, and it’s something he could surpass if his previous couple of games indicate anything. 

Of the eight goals the Blues scored against the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, Thomas nabbed a quarter of them to go with three assists. Yeah, if you’re doing the math, he’s got five points in the last two games. 

While there’s no way Thomas will keep this 2.5 points per game pace up (no hockey player will) long-term, going over a point per game is more than a reality. It’s also worth noting Thomas snagged a goal in the Blues big win over the New Jersey Devils in what was a shutout effort on November 27th, giving him three goals in four games. 

We know how tough of a player Thomas is for opponents to deal with and if he’s heating up along the same time the Blues as a whole are, oh, this season that looked like it was over in November could be a repeat of 2018-19. No, that doesn’t mean the Blues will win the Stanley Cup; it means there’s a chance they’ll exceed wild expectations.

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