St. Louis Blues: Is another breakout year in the future for Robert Thomas?

Drew Bannister may have a loyal supporter in All-Star Robert Thomas.

In a post-season interview, Thomas alluded to the fact that the St. Louis Blues seemed to click and play stronger after the Craig Berube early-season coaching change to Drew Bannister.

Thomas had a rather impressive season, finishing with 86 points and earning an All-Star Game appearance.

The Blues found themselves in playoff contention until the last few games of the season.

Can Robert Thomas and the St. Louis Blues build upon their success in 2024-25?

Obviously, that's the plan. Thomas acknowledged that his success came as a surprise, even though he had undoubtedly anticipated it.

Thomas set career highs in both goal scoring and assists, finishing as the team's top points leader this season.

Turning 25 in July, Thomas is aware of his youth and ability to grow even further.

For a player who performed well under Craig Berube and won the Stanley Cup in 2019, Thomas might be rather encouraged by Bannister's style. Statistically, his numbers were the strongest in his career thus far. It's significant to point out that this was within Bannister's leadership.

Having transitioned to a trusted teammate and alternate captain, Thomas is growing into a new role within the St. Louis Blues, developing into a leader in the locker room.

The team never hands out the letters on a jersey freely, so his receipt of alternate captain status speaks volumes about his leadership qualities.

Will Thomas play at a similar level in the upcoming season? We expect a solid season considering that the coaching staff will remain intact and there are no major roster changes expected. Additionally, there is speculation that the Blues may welcome a couple of prospects to the active roster.

Either way, Thomas is young and arguably the team's star. The potential for a dangerous duo of Thomas and Jordan Kyrou remains, but other skilled players like Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours could also complement him effectively.

If Thomas was shocked by how well he did this season, maybe he'll keep it up and set an even higher bar for himself. That's what Blues fans are hoping for.