The St. Louis Blues were just embarrassed in their 6-5 loss to Nashville on Monday. There have been trade rumors and speculation swirling for months now, and this latest loss might have been the final nail in the coffin for this team as it stands.
One of the most interesting trade chips the Blues carry is that of star forward Robert Thomas. With a No-Movement Clause attached to his Average Annual Value of $8.125 million, the jury is not out on whether he will remain a Blue past the trade deadline.
Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman spoke on the Thomas situation on his daily podcast, "32 Thoughts". What he had to say might shock Blues fans, as this situation might have gotten a lot more interesting.
“I did have someone say to me the other day, if you were to have the over/under on the amount of teams that could do the Thomas deal based on what St. Louis wants, you take the under,” Friedman said.
What in the world could Armstrong want for Thomas?
This is a glaring disposition here, as you would think that Thomas' abilities and price-point might entice a Stanley Cup-contending team in need of a 2C. Actually, with a Salary Cap increase on the way this offseason, there are a couple of teams that could use him on both ends of the NHL spectrum. Lottery teams might look at Thomas as a potential cornerstone piece, at 26 years old and flirting with 80-point seasons.
So, why are so many teams going to be unable to afford him via trade? What could General Manager Doug Armstrong want from teams in return for Thomas?
It could be no salary retention, or maybe Armstrong thinks that Thomas is worth an NHLer and a first-rounder to boot. Either way, the Blues might have Thomas for the rest of his current contract, which might not be a bad thing.
That all depends on what Armstrong wants to do with the rest of the core group. Thomas can stay, but one of Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, or Dylan Holloway might have to walk. Is it really worth it at that point, or is there a sense that Thomas' best hockey could be right in front of him?