The St. Louis Blues are running out of time to gain momentum in the wildcard standings. They sit a couple of points out, but have played a good amount more than everyone above them, which makes every single game mean more than the last.
Right now, there are a couple of injuries plaguing the Blues' chances at winning. Robert Thomas is among those, and he has found himself on the injured list, which might be the final nail in the coffin of his tenure with the Blues.
As General Manager Doug Armstrong contemplates what exactly to do next with the Blues' core group and what direction they will settle on for the future, you have to imagine that Thomas is going to be a big discussion point. The Blues are better with him than without, but if the return is high enough to set this team forward with youth, you have to at least entertain the thought of losing No. 18.
Let's talk about it.
End of an era
Thomas was drafted by the Blues back in 2017, as the 20th overall pick in the draft. His initial seasons were not all that and a bag of chips, but when he emerged in 2021-22 with a 77-point season, the fans rallied around him as the next big thing.
He was a part of the 2018-19 Stanley Cup run, with a goal and five assists for six points as a rookie. If this is the end of the road for Thomas, he has been this franchise's best player for nearly half a decade.
Armstrong has to make a change with this current core group, consisting of Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and goaltender Jordan Binnington. Thomas brings in the most potential for return, and it could be enough to bring in some younger players with higher potential.
Thomas can go and win elsewhere, whilst the Blues fix every possible issue
The Blues need just about everything at the moment. They are nearly last in the NHL in goals scored, as well as in the number of goals they have allowed on the season. Additionally, this core group is not producing enough to compensate for the paychecks given to them, and the Blues cannot afford to enter a tight salary cap with aging contracts.
The Blues are in a state of limbo, with a close gap to both a wildcard spot and the first overall pick in next year's draft. Thomas can be moved for the highest possible return, and he gets a chance to make an impact on another team.