Clayton Keller or Robert Thomas?

[SeanMoneyHands]

Keller just put a career year, 90pts. Thomas would have too if he didn't miss 12 games. Both are only a year apart.

Who's better?

 

[Baksfamous112]

Thomas because he’s a C

 

[Coffee]

Keller just put a career year, 90pts. Thomas would have too if he didn't miss 12 games. Both are only a year apart.

Who's better?

Now or in three years?

 

[DemidovSaveUs]

Ill take the center but I adore Keller’s game. Very underrated.

 

[biturbo19]

Matchbox 20. Because he's a Center.

 

[stl76]

Thomas because he’s a C

Matchbox 20. Because he's a Center.

It’s not just that he’s a C. Thomas is very good defensively and on the dot in addition to the offense he brings. Plays top PK and PP, he’s an all situations top 10 leaguewide 1C.

I love Keller, fantastic player. But he’s a fairly 1 dimensional offensive winger. Thomas is a different tier of player.

 

[Regal]

It’s not just that he’s a C. Thomas is very good defensively and on the dot in addition to the offense he brings. Plays top PK and PP, he’s an all situations top 10 leaguewide 1C.

I love Keller, fantastic player. But he’s a fairly 1 dimensional offensive winger. Thomas is a different tier of player.

Yea, basically. They’ve been similarly productive for awhile (34 G, 84 P per 82 for Keller and 24 G 85 P per 82 for Thomas over the last 4 years), with Keller a better goal scorer, but Thomas just brings more to the game

 

[Mrb1p]

Keller for me.

If it was for the Habs Id take Thomas though, we have a Keller and could use another Suzuki.

 

[biturbo19]

It’s not just that he’s a C. Thomas is very good defensively and on the dot in addition to the offense he brings. Plays top PK and PP, he’s an all situations top 10 leaguewide 1C.

I love Keller, fantastic player. But he’s a fairly 1 dimensional offensive winger. Thomas is a different tier of player.

I don't find Keller particularly lacking defensively. He's pretty outstanding in transition and i don't think his size really gets in his way too much as a two-way player. That said...it's still very fair to say that he's not in Bob Thomas' echelon as an all 'rounder, two-way force. A lot of that does still come down to the fact that he's a Center though, which inherently necessitates his involvement in more of the two-way game. There's just more responsibility on his plate and more opportunity to be involved defensively...which he handles beautifully.

 

[stl76]

I don't find Keller particularly lacking defensively. He's pretty outstanding in transition and i don't think his size really gets in his way too much as a two-way player. That said...it's still very fair to say that he's not in Bob Thomas' echelon as an all 'rounder, two-way force. A lot of that does still come down to the fact that he's a Center though, which inherently necessitates his involvement in more of the two-way game. There's just more responsibility on his plate and more opportunity to be involved defensively...which he handles beautifully.

This past year, Keller had an all situations ozone start % of 71.1% compared to 53.2% for Thomas.

Keller averaged 0:02 per game of PK time (11th among Utah forwards) compared to 1:18 for Thomas (T-1st on Blues).

There are plenty of wingers who play tough defensive minutes, Keller just ain’t one of them. To boil down a comparison of Keller and Thomas to simply W vs C undersells Thomas’ value immensely.

 

[biturbo19]

This past year, Keller had an all situations ozone start % of 71.1% compared to 53.2% for Thomas.

Keller averaged 0:02 per game of PK time (11th among Utah forwards) compared to 1:18 for Thomas (T-1st on Blues).

There are plenty of wingers who play tough defensive minutes, Keller just ain’t one of them. To boil down a comparison of Keller and Thomas to simply W vs C undersells Thomas’ value immensely.

I mean, zone starts is one component of things. Keller obviously gets the cushiest offensive minutes because he is by far the best offensive player the Utah Utes have and that's how coaches have decided to deploy him to make the most of that element. But what i'm saying is, i don't think that Keller is particularly lacking in his defensive play within the minutes he's asked to play. Not that he's anywhere near Thomas as a two-way impact player, but there's nothing in Keller's play that would make me describe him as purely a "one-dimensional" player. Especially considering that his offensive component is very multifaceted, much more so than Thomas even...who is not nearly as versatile as a playmaker and goal-scorer who can do both equally well.

 

[AKL]

Keller is a really good player but I'm coming to realize Thomas is one of the most underrated players in the league. A true top end all around 1C.

 

[BKarchitect]

Yeah I think defensive aptitude and deployment is a feature for Thomas more so than it is any kind of bug for Keller, who is simply deployed in the way his team needs to take advantage of his strengths. Still, it’s a difference maker for me if we are talking about two guys who have some pretty similar offensive results.

I actually am hard-pressed to think of two better pure playmakers in the league outside the known Hart class mega stars than Thomas and Keller.

 

[Ignatius]

This is good because Keller has more offensive upside and impacts the game far more that way and almost exclusively that way whereas Thomas, while still being a solid playmaker on offense, impacts the game far more in a 200-ft role.

Similar dynamic to Michkov vs. Celebrini

 

[Chel Guy]

Keller is an elite offensive player. I take him all day.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Keller the better goal scorer and Thomas the better playmaker. But Thomas plays the more important position and impacts the game more defensively (pretty much because of that position). He’s also bigger which can matter in the playoffs and in terms of staying healthy, and taking and delivering checks. So edge goes to Thomas IMO.

Love Keller though and would love to have the STL area kid on the Blues.

 

[ToastedRavioli]

This is good because Keller has more offensive upside and impacts the game far more that way and almost exclusively that way whereas Thomas, while still being a solid playmaker on offense, impacts the game far more in a 200-ft role.

Similar dynamic to Michkov vs. Celebrini

I agree on Thomas being much more impactful on defense but you are also downplaying his offense. He's had a better ppg than Keller 3/4 last seasons, including this year and last year. This might be nitpicking but calling him a solid playmaker is also insane downplaying. He has some of the best passing and vision I have genuinely ever seen. Thomas drives the play every time he is on the ice. He's involved in any offense his line or powerplay unit generates. I love Keller and he is a super dynamic offensive forward but so is Thomas. Thomas is able to generate similar or better offensive output while getting harder ice time and carrying a lot of defensive responsibility.

Keller is an elite offensive player. I take him all day.

Keller is definitely an elite offensive player, but Thomas is as good offensively as he is, while getting harder minutes and playing stellar defense.

 

[Summer Rose]

As much as it pains me to say it because Keller's on my team, I went with Thomas over Keller. They're just about dead even, but any semblance of a tie to me is broken by the fact that Thomas is a center and Keller is a winger, so that edge goes to him.

 

[yurnxt]

Thomas is quietly a top ten and arguably a top 5 center in the league. His all around 200 foot game doesn't really have any holes in it and he'll win a Selke & have a 100 point season at some point in his career. Though he hasn't turned 26 yet, he's been a tremendous player for years now so it's now good too see he's finally getting some love.

 

[Ignatius]

I agree on Thomas being much more impactful on defense but you are also downplaying his offense. He's had a better ppg than Keller 3/4 last seasons, including this year and last year. This might be nitpicking but calling him a solid playmaker is also insane downplaying. He has some of the best passing and vision I have genuinely ever seen. Thomas drives the play every time he is on the ice. He's involved in any offense his line or powerplay unit generates. I love Keller and he is a super dynamic offensive forward but so is Thomas. Thomas is able to generate similar or better offensive output while getting harder ice time and carrying a lot of defensive responsibility.


Keller is definitely an elite offensive player, but Thomas is as good offensively as he is, while getting harder minutes and playing stellar defense.

I've been a Robert Thomas truther ever since he came into the league, his development has been exceptional and much in the same way I expect Celebrini to develop similarly to how Thomas has and likely have an even higher ceiling. Search my posts on Thomas, I've been saying it for a long time that he just needs to shoot the stinking puck more often and pot some more goals to be universally recognized as a truly elite center.

For the purposes of this thread if you could just sprinkle some of Keller's offensive prowess into Thomas's game, you have a world beater center at your service.

 

[LGB]

Thomas is quietly a top ten and arguably a top 5 center in the league. His all around 200 foot game doesn't really have any holes in it and he'll win a Selke & have a 100 point season at some point in his career. Though he hasn't turned 26 yet, he's been a tremendous player for years now so it's now good too see he's finally getting some love.

Agree on the 100 point season. Hopefully multiple even. I’d be surprised if he won the Selke.

 

[Chel Guy]

I agree on Thomas being much more impactful on defense but you are also downplaying his offense. He's had a better ppg than Keller 3/4 last seasons, including this year and last year. This might be nitpicking but calling him a solid playmaker is also insane downplaying. He has some of the best passing and vision I have genuinely ever seen. Thomas drives the play every time he is on the ice. He's involved in any offense his line or powerplay unit generates. I love Keller and he is a super dynamic offensive forward but so is Thomas. Thomas is able to generate similar or better offensive output while getting harder ice time and carrying a lot of defensive responsibility.


Keller is definitely an elite offensive player, but Thomas is as good offensively as he is, while getting harder minutes and playing stellar defense.

When it is all said and done I think Keller will end up with more points once their respective careers finish. Thomas is better defensively, but I disagree that he is better offensively.