The Cost is High for Robert Thomas
Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff joined TSN Radio in Montreal and was asked about what the St. Louis Blues will do with Robert Thomas. Will he be moved now or in the summer?
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Artemi Panarin, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Host: “Anthony, just a lot of noise coming out of St Louis, not the year that they were expecting. Robert Thomas is a name that is out there. Do you believe that the deal will be done this year? Or is it something that may not be done? Or is it something that, because you’re moving such a big piece, may be done in the summer?”
Anthony Di Marco: “Well, I don’t think it’s to be done this year, just because of where Doug Armstrong is kind of at in his career with the Blues and Team Canada. From what I had heard from more than one general manager, and one more than one source, is that, like, it’s going to take a massive haul to get Robert Thomas out of St Louis. And as it should be right?
26-year-old center under contract for, I believe, at least another four or five seasons at an $8.1 million cap. He does have pretty significant trade protection. And if you’re Doug Armstrong has one league sort of salute. Put it to me, he’s trying to leave a legacy. And I think that since he took over, and I believe it was 2009, he’s the only General Manager to have never, or the Blues, rather, are the only team to not exercise the buyout.
NHL Rumors: St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks
And is he trying to leave a legacy there, and if he’s going to make a major trade like that, pull off like a slobber knocker in the words of Jim Ross, probably, and I just don’t know if he’s too preoccupied right now with what is going on with Team Canada and the Olympics, quite literally right around the corner.
So, for me, I think that would be a deal if, at any point in the summer, where you have a new general manager, and Alex Steen with his hands on the wheel and perhaps a different philosophy, in a different direction.
NHLRumors.com Note: GM Doug Armstrong has set the market high for Robert Thomas dating back to last season. Similar to the prices on Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou. He continues to dangle the players, but he wants to trade them on his terms. The teams interested in Thomas, Kyrou, and Schenn know the prices, and the Blues are backing off on them right now.
Could the Minnesota Wild Make a Play at Robert Thomas?
In a later segment on TSN Radio in Montreal, Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff was asked about the Minnesota Wild and their plans for the trade deadline. He mentions Thomas as fit.
Di Marco: “I mean, the Wild are going to be interesting, right? You hear Jesper Wallstedt‘s name circle or surface rather, leading up to the trade deadline. Like, what are they going to do? They need a center? We know obviously the likes of Ryan Hartman, (Joel) Eriksson-Ek, and Danila Yurov aren’t really going to cut it as you’re 1,2,3, down the middle, if you’re looking before Cup aspirations, and by all accounts, that’s exactly what Bill Guerin is doing. But speaking of Robert Thomas, guys, I know it’s in the division, but like with that not being on paper, the best landing spot for Robert Thomas is Minnesota.”
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