Robert Thomas, the guy everyone thought was on his way out of St. Louis, just got named the 25th captain in Blues franchise history. The team dropped the news Wednesday, and honestly, who saw this coming after all those trade rumors? It’s a wild turnaround for a player who seemed destined for another uniform just months ago.
From Trade Bait to Team Leader
Remember last March, when Robert Thomas was basically stapled to every NHL trade target board? The buzz was wild; the Minnesota Wild even threw an offer at the Blues, but St. Louis held firm. The Athletic’s Michael Russo spilled the beans on that one. Everyone was watching Thomas, especially with that $8.125 million AAV deal running through 2030-31, which is looking like a steal for a first-line center, particularly when you see guys like Macklin Celebrini pulling in $18.8 million AAV. The kicker? Thomas told The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford in July that the Blues never even asked him to waive his no-trade clause! He was in the room, too, meeting with new GM Alexander Steen and other front office folks about where the team was headed. He even called out Holloway, Neighbours, and Broberg as key pieces for the future. Talk about a plot twist!
A New Era Kicks Off
So now Thomas is not only a leader in name, he’s got the ‘C’ on his chest, joining Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, Jake Neighbours, and Dylan Holloway, who are all rocking the ‘A’ as assistant captains. Parayko, heading into his 12th season with the Blues, brings that veteran presence, a perfect combo with Thomas, who’s only the seventh Blues draft pick to become captain in franchise history. This guy was picked 20th overall in 2017, debuted a year later, and even put in 21 playoff games during their 2019 Stanley Cup run. He’s been money, too, hitting a point-per-game rate in three of the last four years. Last season, even after a midseason leg procedure that cost him time, he still cranked out 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) in 64 games, absolutely lighting it up with an NHL-best 24.5 percent shooting percentage. He was the most productive player on a squad that missed the postseason for the third time in four years. You know the frustration is real there. Now, with Thomas and Parayko leading the charge, alongside that younger core, they’re hoping to finally get past the first round for the first time since 2022. It’s go time!
The Blues are definitely banking on Thomas’s fresh captaincy to ignite a fire. With the new season gearing up, all eyes will be on how this new leadership group, especially with Parayko’s veteran wisdom and Thomas’s raw talent, can finally break that playoff drought. It’s a huge moment for St. Louis, and you know they’re hungry for some wins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply