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Evaluating Trade Rumour Linking Thomas To Canadiens
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- Evaluating Trade Rumour Linking Thomas To Canadiens
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
According to multiple reports, the Montreal Canadiens are among the teams interested in trading for St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas .
Seeing as the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, it's a perfect opportunity to evaluate whether Thomas would be a good fit with the Habs, as well as the potential price tag suggested by some insiders.
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Trade Situation
Elliotte Friedman, among others, has included the Habs in the teams that are currently in the Thomas sweepstakes, though he does not propose they're the front-runners.
The Buffalo Sabres , the Utah Mammoth , and the Detroit Red Wings are also interested in acquiring the centre.
Montreal Canadiens Angle
The Canadiens have limited cap space , which means they would have to clear some salaries to acquire a player with a contract that carries an $8.25 million annual average value (AAV). Thomas' deal expires in 2030-31, therefore this is not an instance of making space for a rental player.
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At 26 years old, Thomas fits the ideal age range put in place by Kent Hughes and Company when constructing the roster, and in that vein, we can conclude he does make sense as a trade target for the Canadiens.
It's always difficult to get a good read on skaters playing for a weak team, but it should be noted that Thomas has managed to maintain very solid underlying numbers despite the Blues' struggles this year. His relative numbers when it comes to controlling high-danger chances, in particular, are very encouraging, as the Habs have struggled to maintain a decent share of the high-quality scoring chances since Martin St-Louis took over as head coach.
When it comes his production, Thomas has scored fewer goals than the player he would ideally replace on the second line, rookie Oliver Kapanen . Thomas has 12 goals in 43 games to his credit, while Kapanen has 19 in 60, but as we all know, context is key in hockey.
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Kapanen is playing with two forwards who do a great job setting him up with high-danger chances several times per night, whereas Thomas is currently playing with Jimmy Snuggerud and Brayden Schenn , a significant downtick in quality of teammate.
To be clear, Thomas has also spent time playing with Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours , therefore we can't solely blame his relatively underwhelming production solely on his linemates, but it's quite clear he hasn't enjoyed the same level of consistency in his usage as Kapanen.
Expected Cost To Acquire Robert Thomas
The Blues are trying to maximize their asset value, which is understandable, as 26-year-old centres with impressive upside are rarely available in the trade market.
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That being said, they're looking for the classic trade package that would include an elite prospect, a young defenceman with potential, and additional picks.
Pierre Lebrun suggested the price tag for the Canadiens would include top prospect Michael Hage, David Reinbacher , and more. We can safely assume the "more" in this case includes a first-round pick, perhaps even a pair of first-round picks.
Now, that's simply the ideal return for the Blues. It doesn't mean the Canadiens are ready to pony up a king's ransom.
However, given his age, his cost-controlled contract, the heavy interest around the league, and the fact that he's centre, the inflated price tag does make a certain amount of sense.
Robert Thomas Brass Tacks
Hage was recently named the top prospect in the system by Habs fans, and though it's quite clear you have to give to get in NHL trade, if the Canadiens also include a pair of first-round picks in the deal, they would quickly gut prospect cupboard for the upcoming years.
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Remember, the Canadiens did not make a first-round pick in 2026, as they sent two first-round picks to the New York Islanders in exchange for Noah Dobson . Jacob Fowler has starter potential, Alexander Zharovsky could one day become a talented NHLer, and Bryce Pickford has enjoyed an incredibly encouraging season in the WHL, but I would stop short in suggesting they have the same elite potential as Hage.
It's not a hockey sin to mortgage a significant portion of the future for a player who could potentially be part of the organization for an extended period, but it's worth considering that the team's greatest need at this very moment is not a centre, but rather, a more stable defensive group.
The Canadiens score plenty of goals, but they have a very hard time keeping the puck out of their own net.
On the flip side of the coin, you have to strike when the iron is hot, and waiting for Hage to be NHL ready might delay the opening of the team's Stanley Cup window.
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All things considered, acquiring Robert Thomas would be the type of trade that would clearly improve the lineup, while overlooking some of the more pressing needs when evaluating Montreal's roster construction.
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