The NHL finished announcing the regular-season awards for the 2024-25 season on Thursday night. Among the awards revealed was the Hart Trophy, which is awarded annually for the most valuable player to his team in the NHL. It is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and the PHWA releases the results of all ballots.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won both the Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy. There was a close race at the top between him and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon not too far behind.
Since every voter has to list five players on their ballot, there are some names that get thrown a vote or two throughout the 191 ballots collected.
One of those players is St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas.
Thomas finished tied for 18th in Hart Trophy voting, as nine players received one fifth-place vote for the Hart Trophy. And it wasn't even a St. Louis writer to throw Thomas a bone, but CBC Radio Canada's Marc-Antoine Godin
The St. Louis center led the Blues with 60 assists and 81 points in just 70 games last season while averaging just under 20 minutes per contest.
While no one is arguing that Thomas is one of the best five players in the league, there is an argument to be made that he was one of the five most valuable. It's safe to assume that the Blues wouldn't have made their playoff run had they not had Thomas leading the way.
Thomas had 45 points (9 goals, 36 assists) in his final 30 games from February until the end of the season. He was held off the scoresheet in just three of those games.
It's nice to see Thomas get some recognition for another breakout season.