Respected outlet is correct about Robert Thomas’ outlook for 2024-25
Robert Thomas is one of the more exciting youngsters on the St. Louis Blues, and he drove that point home last season when he increased his points total by 21 between 2022-23 and 2023-24 from 65 to 86. Thomas also set a career-high with 26 goals, but most fans may look at his 60 assists and say to themselves, “We got an ultra-talented playmaker in Gateway City.”
Thomas’ outstanding 2023-24 outing was the main reason I ranked him No. 1 among Blues forwards heading into 2024-25. But I wasn’t the only one optimistic about what Thomas will bring this season, as SI.com’s Jacob Punturi listed one forward, one goaltender, and one blueliner “who will build off strong 2023,” and Thomas was that forward.
In case you’re curious, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres was the goaltender, and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils was the blueliner. While the Blues have way too many defensemen in the system that prevented any youngster in the rotation from enjoying a strong 2023-24 season, Joel Hofer is one name to look out for among youthful goaltenders who will build off his strong performance last year - mark me on that one.
Why Robert Thomas will build off his strong 2023-24 season in 2024-25
So why was Punturi right to list Thomas as the one young forward in the league who will build on his strong 2023-24 campaign better than perhaps any other? Because, you know, Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks is the obvious trendy pick this season.
One reason is that Thomas, despite heading into his age-25 season, has more than enough experience - six seasons worth. He’s a proven player logging first-line minutes with 396 games of experience, 86 goals, and 315 points.
Further, Thomas has, for the most part, gotten progressively better each season in which he’s played in at least 66 games, with the only exception being a regression in 2022-23 from his 2021-22 numbers. But the entire team regressed that season, so I’m not holding the lack of productivity - if you can even call 65 points a “lack of productivity” against him.
Finally, the Blues have quite a few young forwards in their top-six and those in their prime returning, including the great Pavel Buchnevich. So yeah, I’ll confidently sit here and say Jacob Punturi is more than correct to list Thomas. Now the question is: Will he hit 100 points in 2024-25? But that’s a question we can answer at a later time.
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