St. Louis Blues: Staying the course and developing with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou
By David Crum
As the St. Louis Blues navigate the offseason, it's crucial to remember that the team's success hinges on developing and retaining players like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Any trade involving them should be off the table.
Robert Thomas
By all accounts, Thomas is untouchable. Thomas barely turns 25 this summer and earned an All-Star appearance to accompany his Cup from the 2019 squad.
Blues fans acknowledge that Thomas, who has perhaps the most potential of any current player, will be instrumental in building the future.
His statistics for the last three years remain steady:
2021–2022 – 20 goals, 57 assists, 77 points.
2022–2023 – 18 goals, 47 assists, 65 points.
2023–2024 – 26 goals, 60 assists, 86 points.
Obviously, the Blues would love for Thomas to emulate his success this year. Fans don't need to worry about him leaving for another team via free agency, as he and Kyrou have signed long-term contracts with the team.
Thomas is a growing superstar who should be the foundation of the Blues and their future plans.
Jordan Kyrou
Kyrou earned an All-Star appearance in 2022 and turned 26 this week.
While it's highly unlikely that GM Doug Armstrong would ever move Kyrou, his name has appeared more frequently in trade rumors than Thomas.
His comments following the firing of former head coach Craig Berube caused displeasure among some fans, and Kyrou was not too fond of being booed. He is, however, a good young player and fits well with Thomas.
His statistics for the last three years prove his talent:
2021–2022 – 27 goals, 48 assists, 75 points.
2022–2023 – 37 goals, 36 assists, 73 points.
2023–2024 – 31 goals, 36 assists, 67 points.
Some fans are concerned about his deflating numbers, which have decreased each of the last three years. Nevertheless, youth matters here, and so does stability. Kyrou will now benefit from a permanent head coach being named and the understanding that a foundational group of players will continue to suit up each game for the Blues.
All indications show Armstrong has his two stars in Thomas and Kyrou and needs to build around them.