The St. Louis Blues will be a better team coming out of the Olympic Break, as Robert Thomas is set to return from injury. He has been out since January 10th, after undergoing a minor surgery on his leg. This will be a welcome addition, as Thomas was putting together a decent season before injury. In 42 games, he has recorded 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. Thomas should re-take his position on the top line.
However, it is unknown how long Thomas will be back. With the Blues trending towards being sellers, Thomas could find his name in trade rumors. With him being 26 and under contract for the next five seasons, he should garner a ton of interest. But this could also be a reason for the Blues to hold on to Thomas and make him one of the players they build around. But what will Thomas have to do to prove he belongs long-term?
How Robert Thomas can become a cornerstone of the Blues roster
The biggest thing that Thomas has to prove is that he's still an elite offensive threat. While he's put together a decent season, he was only on pace for 64 points. That would have been his lowest point total since the 2022-23 season, when he got 65. Sure, over 60 points is impressive, but coming off back-to-back seasons of 80+ points, this is a bit concerning. It raises fears that he's taking a step back. While still a good player, he's not someone you can build your roster around.
In the four games between the end of the Olympic break and before the trade deadline, Thomas needs to be the player who drives the offense. He needs to register points in at least three of those games. Ideally, he gets points in all four and has a multi-point performance, but we have to remember he's coming off an injury. This will show that Thomas is still a strong offensive player and someone the Blues can build the lineup around.
His advanced metrics show that this type of production is possible. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a 50 GF%, a 53.26 SCF%, and a 50.33 xG%. These show he's still a positive offensive player. They are also very similar to the numbers he had when he was putting up 80-plus points in a season. That 80-point player is still in there. His problem this season could be external factors, such as injuries or the team's overall struggles.
Every rebuild needs at least one veteran player to build around. Someone who will take the role as the "face" of the franchise. Thomas can be that player for the Blues. He can provide the leadership both on and off the ice that a young roster needs. It can also help the Blues get back into contention sooner. With a player like Thomas and the young talent already on the roster, it may only take a season or two for the Blues to be fighting for a playoff spot.
While Thomas could fetch the Blues an amazing return, if he show he's still a budding superstar it be much smarter to keep him. He can be the star player the locker room rallies around.