The St. Louis Blues are entering a monumental season. There is a new dawn, and new faces are spread around this roster and front office. To say that this past offseason was a snooze-fest would be a complete and utter lie.
One of the first moves that was made this summer was actually not a move at all. It was a declaration to keep on one of their best players and a pillar of the future that this franchise is about to enter. Robert Thomas, who gets thrown into trade rumors about as often as the high tide rolls in, was declared untouchable.
Impact in 2025-26
The 2025-26 season was a bit of a disappointment following the surprise playoff appearance the season before. It was a sense of misidentity, and the Blues had a serious reality check.
Almost everyone on the roster was deemed lackluster, and the mighty few really stood above the rest. Thomas was included in that group, as he once again had a stellar season. In 64 games, in which No. 18 was sorely missed for those 18 games, he scored 25 goals and added 39 assists for 64 points.
It took a while to get there, though. Head coach Jim Montgomery shuffled and shuffled and turned the lines upside down and backwards about 100 times before finally putting together the winning formula in the final stretch. Thomas, alongside Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, was a first line of complete success, and the hope is that it continues in 2026-27.
Expectation for 2026-27Â
Speaking of 2026-27, Thomas' expectations have never been higher. With a younger and inexperienced roster around him, it will be up to him to really lead this team with his leadership and on-ice play. He has to be this team's best forward, even if he is not declared the Most Valuable Player overall.
He was a point-per-game player last season and the prior two seasons before that. For this upcoming season, and with two very good goal-scorers, the ever-elusive 100-point plateau can finally be reached.
Thomas has to make it his one and only goal to be the first 100-point getter since Brendan Shanahan did it in 1994. If he can stay healthy and this team moves in the direction that it should following the serious boost in the top-six group, then this should absolutely be an expectation.
The Blues are going to need Thomas to be an elite player, just like he has been for the past eight seasons. as his prime is set to begin, there should be no stopping No. 18.
Add us as a preferred source on Google