St. Louis Blues: How can Robert Thomas keep racking up those assists next season?

Robert Thomas finished the season with 86 points, highlighted by career-highs in both goals (26) and assists (60).

Recording 60 assists is impressive in individual stats and game-changing, proving Thomas has an eye for the puck and is reliable in setting up his teammates for goals.

His 60 assists ranked him No. 16 in the league in total assists.

To give an insight into how the other star players ranked, the top 5 leaders in the league were:

Nikita Kucherov–100
Connor McDavid–100
Nathan MacKinnon–89
Quinn Hughes–75
Artemi Panarin–71

The top 5 leaders are star players who have greatness around their name.

At just 25 years old, Thomas has showcased his skill in assists.

In 2022-23, he recorded 47, but a year prior, in 2021-22, he concluded the season with 57.

He may find himself adding to his already impressive total.

St. Louis Blues: Keep your eyes on the skilled prospects

We might not refer to Jake Neighbours as a technical prospect anymore, as he’s most likely here to stay in full-time play, but seeing Neighbours gain more ice time and maybe even play more robust minutes alongside Thomas will benefit Thomas in his assists.

While Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich are both proven scorers, the possibilities surrounding Neighbours as the future goal leader are realistic. His talent is evident, as is his keen eye for scoring opportunities.

Dalibor Dvorsky and other promising prospects will soon become part of the equation.  

Thomas will increase his stats as more talent enters the roster, including top goal-scoring threats like Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud.

Power-Plays

If the Blues improve their power-play performance, it will benefit Thomas when he's on the ice.

Assists matter, and the great ones like McDavid and MacKinnon have an eye for setting up goal-scoring plays.

Thomas, being so young himself yet playing for several seasons, is still learning the game and reading teams in decisive moments.

Head coach Drew Bannister knows he has a genuine leader in Thomas. He will definitely create strategic plays, especially during power-play situations, to bewilder opponents.

With some support from his teammates, Thomas could become one of the top 5 assist leaders.