It is no secret that the Central Division is a great bunch of NHL teams. For the St. Louis Blues, they are still a few years away from trying to send one of the top teams packing without a playoff appearance.
That is large in part due to the fact that the Central Division has so many top centers in it. There are five of them on the recent NHL Network’s recent ranking of the top 20 centers in the NHL. It is technically five, but Dylan Larkin will be very likely leaving the Detroit Red Wings for a team outside of the Central before the 2026-27 season.
Introducing NHL Network's Top 20 Centers Right Now!
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) August 24, 2026
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But what about the Blues, and more importantly, what about Robert Thomas? How does he not get featured alongside some close comparables like Larkin, Jack Hughes, and Tim Stutzle? (Link)
Thomas gets snubbed?
Thomas, who has been a point-per-game player or better over the last couple of seasons, is entering a potentially historic season. Not only for his placement in the Blues' history books, but for a personal plateau as well.
Entering the prime of his career at 28, with two really good wingers in Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway, this should be the year that breaks down the elusive wall of the 100-point mark. It has been written in the stars at this point and has been deemed an expectation for No. 18. (Link)
To say that he got snubbed from this list is an understatement. Is he a top-10 center in the NHL? No.
Should he be considered in the latter-half of the top-20? Absolutely.
Thomas was snubbed from this list, and it is blatantly obvious.
Different story at end of 2026-27?
When they run this ranking next summer, this will all be a misunderstanding. Thomas will get his flowers, and his diamond-in-the-rough status will be expired.
He will be amongst the NHL’s elite, and the 2026-27 season will be a big reason why. The Blues are counting on him to be every bit of the player he has been, and with youth soon flooding the roster, he needs to be more. We have seen him rise to the occasion before, and it is clear that his expectation is much higher now than ever.
If he can achieve those expectations and make his mark amongst his own Central Division rivals that are on this list, there should be no reason why he is not a top-20 center next offseason.
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