Dreger: Leafs-Blues

[Baksfamous112]

It doesn't matter if you think the player Robert Thomas is worth the 1OA pick or not. What matters is if the 2026 St. Louis Blues would trade Robert Thomas for the player they value most in the 2026 NHL draft. The answer is that they would not do it. Nobody in this draft is worth more to the Blues than what Robert Thomas is currently worth to them. We do not have a Robert Thomas replacement, and the player we would hypothetically draft at 1OA would not replace him. There is no Celebrini or Bedard in this draft.

The foundation of this core of forwards is better than the foundation of forwards we were building prior to winning the Cup in 2019.

I’m confused. I thought this was a Thomas + Parayko for 1OA thread?

So Thomas is a game breaking center and if we could, but the value isn’t enough from us,we should trade him for #1 to get a game breaking winger?

So if Leafs were offering up #1 for Suzuki, the value would be too good and you’d have to accept and then figure out center with other moves?

Cups are won down the middle. Blues fans have experienced crap center depth going back to the Backes years, so excuse us for not wanting to relive years of first round exits.

Montreal and St-Louis are in two very different places. One is a team entering their window and the other one is entering a retool. It’s two very different scenarios.

I don’t know why you guys seems so surprised with the Thomas rumors like it’s the first time ya’ll are hearing about it.

Pretty much every single insiders imaginable have reported he’s available.

To answer your question about Suzuki; If in 2021 Suzuki was 26 going 27 like Thomas is and Montreal was looking at a retool/rebuild then yeah, I would absolutely have advocated for him to be traded and no I wouldn’t have expected 1OA in return. I would’ve been pretty happy with a Hughes (probably a bit lighter) return so that my team can properly tank and hopefully draft 1-2 high end C and one high end D to go with the current depth and young talent my team (in this case St-Louis) posses

 

[HighNote]

I’m confused. I thought this was a Thomas + Parayko for 1OA thread?

It is. Technically it's Thomas + Parayko for 1OA + Hidelby.

What's your point?

 

[Em etah Eh]

I’m confused. I thought this was a Thomas + Parayko for 1OA thread?


Montreal and St-Louis are in two very different places. One is a team entering their window and the other one is entering a retool. It’s two very different scenarios.

I don’t know why you guys seems so surprised with the Thomas rumors like it’s the first time ya’ll are hearing about it.

Pretty much every single insiders imaginable have reported he’s available.

To answer your question about Suzuki; If in 2021 Suzuki was 26 going 27 like Thomas is and Montreal was looking at a retool/rebuild then yeah, I would absolutely have advocated for him to be traded and no I wouldn’t have expected 1OA in return. I would’ve been pretty happy with a Hughes (probably a bit lighter) return so that my team can properly tank and hopefully draft 1-2 high end C and one high end D to go with the current depth and young talent my team (in this case St-Louis) posses

This is assuming the blues can do a proper tank, which they can’t, which is the whole point. They don’t have the market for a full on tank. This would have been the year but they went and got healthy down the stretch and won games to mess up the draft pick.

Call us insane for liking our situation going forward if you want but the blues are not bottoming out the next few seasons.

 

[yurnxt]

It seems Doug Armstrong and blues fans really overvalue Robert Thomas. If im a gm im never calling Armstrong on any of his players. It would be like shopping at holt renfrew.

What exactly is a 2 way, #1C with his name on the cup entering his age 27 season signed to the best "sweetheart" contract in the league worth?

 

[Baksfamous112]

This is assuming the blues can do a proper tank, which they can’t, which is the whole point. They don’t have the market for a full on tank. This would have been the year but they went and got healthy down the stretch and won games to mess up the draft pick.

Call us insane for liking our situation going forward if you want but the blues are not bottoming out the next few seasons.

Looks like management have a whole different view than yours:

Blues offseason priorities: Trade Thomas? And Binnington, Kyrou, Parayko, Buchnevich?

The Blues' 2025-26 season wrapped up Thursday. Now it's time to turn our attention to incoming GM Aleander Steen's summer to-do list.

www.nytimes.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/four-blues-players-appear-insiders-234225097.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/blues-trade-rumors-3-big-180643372.html

Four Blues are back on the summer trade board

The salary cap has been on the rise the last couple seasons, and it's only going to continue ballooning. As a result, teams are throwing big contracts at player

bleedinblue.com

• Bleedin' Blue (late May 2026): Notes four Blues players on The Athletic's offseason trade board, including Jordan Kyrou (ranked #3), Robert Thomas (#15), and Colton Parayko (#16). It mentions Thomas was nearly traded at the deadline (with a high asking price), Parayko nearly moved but used his trade protection, and ongoing smoke around Kyrou.
  
  bleedinblue.com
• Yahoo Sports / The Fourth Period (May 2026): Reports that Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and goalie Jordan Binnington could appear in summer trade chatter. It explicitly notes Robert Thomas will also be in plenty of rumors.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• Yahoo Sports (May 21, 2026): Covers Frank Seravalli's offseason trade board, listing Kyrou, Binnington, Thomas, and Parayko as Blues players featured.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• The Athletic and others: Earlier pieces (April-May 2026) reference deadline discussions involving all three, with possibilities of rekindling talks in the summer. Kyrou has the most persistent rumors, often described as available for a "king's ransom" (high-end player + top prospect + 1st-round pick). Thomas trades would be "franchise-altering" with a steep price, and Parayko's situation depends on direction under new management (he blocked a prior deal)."

 

[centipede2233]

What exactly is a 2 way, #1C with his name on the cup entering his age 27 season signed to the best "sweetheart" contract in the league worth?

What someone is willing to pay.

 

[Em etah Eh]

Looks like management have a whole different view than yours:

Blues offseason priorities: Trade Thomas? And Binnington, Kyrou, Parayko, Buchnevich?

The Blues' 2025-26 season wrapped up Thursday. Now it's time to turn our attention to incoming GM Aleander Steen's summer to-do list.

www.nytimes.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/four-blues-players-appear-insiders-234225097.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/blues-trade-rumors-3-big-180643372.html

Four Blues are back on the summer trade board

The salary cap has been on the rise the last couple seasons, and it's only going to continue ballooning. As a result, teams are throwing big contracts at player

bleedinblue.com

• Bleedin' Blue (late May 2026): Notes four Blues players on The Athletic's offseason trade board, including Jordan Kyrou (ranked #3), Robert Thomas (#15), and Colton Parayko (#16). It mentions Thomas was nearly traded at the deadline (with a high asking price), Parayko nearly moved but used his trade protection, and ongoing smoke around Kyrou.
  
  bleedinblue.com
• Yahoo Sports / The Fourth Period (May 2026): Reports that Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and goalie Jordan Binnington could appear in summer trade chatter. It explicitly notes Robert Thomas will also be in plenty of rumors.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• Yahoo Sports (May 21, 2026): Covers Frank Seravalli's offseason trade board, listing Kyrou, Binnington, Thomas, and Parayko as Blues players featured.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• The Athletic and others: Earlier pieces (April-May 2026) reference deadline discussions involving all three, with possibilities of rekindling talks in the summer. Kyrou has the most persistent rumors, often described as available for a "king's ransom" (high-end player + top prospect + 1st-round pick). Thomas trades would be "franchise-altering" with a steep price, and Parayko's situation depends on direction under new management (he blocked a prior deal)."

We already knew they were listening to offers on Thomas. The price was never met. That’s different than actively trying to trade him.

It’s all speculation if he’s actually on the block right now. Of course teams in need of a C hope the blues are crazy enough to move their only great C. Doesn’t mean blues fans agree.

Here’s a quote at the end of the JR article.

“Between Thomas’ production and presence, the club may be witnessing more evidence that leads to keeping him.”

So JR is just guessing about the front office plans at this point.

 

[Frenzy31]

We already knew they were listening to offers on Thomas. The price was never met. That’s different than actively trying to trade him.

It’s all speculation if he’s actually on the block right now. Of course teams in need of a C hope the blues are crazy enough to move their only great C. Doesn’t mean blues fans agree.

Here’s a quote at the end of the JR article.

“Between Thomas’ production and presence, the club may be witnessing more evidence that leads to keeping him.”

So JR is just guessing about the front office plans at this point.

Everyone already know that Kyrou and perhaps CP are potential trades targets. But, Thomas will drive clicks, not the other two.

 

[sfvega]

I’m confused. I thought this was a Thomas + Parayko for 1OA thread?


Montreal and St-Louis are in two very different places. One is a team entering their window and the other one is entering a retool. It’s two very different scenarios.

I don’t know why you guys seems so surprised with the Thomas rumors like it’s the first time ya’ll are hearing about it.

Pretty much every single insiders imaginable have reported he’s available.

To answer your question about Suzuki; If in 2021 Suzuki was 26 going 27 like Thomas is and Montreal was looking at a retool/rebuild then yeah, I would absolutely have advocated for him to be traded and no I wouldn’t have expected 1OA in return. I would’ve been pretty happy with a Hughes (probably a bit lighter) return so that my team can properly tank and hopefully draft 1-2 high end C and one high end D to go with the current depth and young talent my team (in this case St-Louis) posses

Everyone reported they were listening to offers on him in February. And then he came back and had 31 points in 22 games and a +25.

Who said we're rebuilding? We have a good young talent on the roster, a really good farm system, and Broberg/Mailloux/Lindstein with Jiricek on the way. Hofer is locked in on net. What would be the point of trading our best player and torpedoing our next 3 seasons competitively? Just because people want Thomas to be available for their team doesn't mean he is.

 

[sfvega]

Looks like management have a whole different view than yours:

Blues offseason priorities: Trade Thomas? And Binnington, Kyrou, Parayko, Buchnevich?

The Blues' 2025-26 season wrapped up Thursday. Now it's time to turn our attention to incoming GM Aleander Steen's summer to-do list.

www.nytimes.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/four-blues-players-appear-insiders-234225097.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/blues-trade-rumors-3-big-180643372.html

Four Blues are back on the summer trade board

The salary cap has been on the rise the last couple seasons, and it's only going to continue ballooning. As a result, teams are throwing big contracts at player

bleedinblue.com

• Bleedin' Blue (late May 2026): Notes four Blues players on The Athletic's offseason trade board, including Jordan Kyrou (ranked #3), Robert Thomas (#15), and Colton Parayko (#16). It mentions Thomas was nearly traded at the deadline (with a high asking price), Parayko nearly moved but used his trade protection, and ongoing smoke around Kyrou.
  
  bleedinblue.com
• Yahoo Sports / The Fourth Period (May 2026): Reports that Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and goalie Jordan Binnington could appear in summer trade chatter. It explicitly notes Robert Thomas will also be in plenty of rumors.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• Yahoo Sports (May 21, 2026): Covers Frank Seravalli's offseason trade board, listing Kyrou, Binnington, Thomas, and Parayko as Blues players featured.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• The Athletic and others: Earlier pieces (April-May 2026) reference deadline discussions involving all three, with possibilities of rekindling talks in the summer. Kyrou has the most persistent rumors, often described as available for a "king's ransom" (high-end player + top prospect + 1st-round pick). Thomas trades would be "franchise-altering" with a steep price, and Parayko's situation depends on direction under new management (he blocked a prior deal)."

Management hasn't mentioned Thomas being available in months.

 

[BleedBlue14]

Looks like management have a whole different view than yours:

Blues offseason priorities: Trade Thomas? And Binnington, Kyrou, Parayko, Buchnevich?

The Blues' 2025-26 season wrapped up Thursday. Now it's time to turn our attention to incoming GM Aleander Steen's summer to-do list.

www.nytimes.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/four-blues-players-appear-insiders-234225097.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/blues-trade-rumors-3-big-180643372.html

Four Blues are back on the summer trade board

The salary cap has been on the rise the last couple seasons, and it's only going to continue ballooning. As a result, teams are throwing big contracts at player

bleedinblue.com

• Bleedin' Blue (late May 2026): Notes four Blues players on The Athletic's offseason trade board, including Jordan Kyrou (ranked #3), Robert Thomas (#15), and Colton Parayko (#16). It mentions Thomas was nearly traded at the deadline (with a high asking price), Parayko nearly moved but used his trade protection, and ongoing smoke around Kyrou.
  
  bleedinblue.com
• Yahoo Sports / The Fourth Period (May 2026): Reports that Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and goalie Jordan Binnington could appear in summer trade chatter. It explicitly notes Robert Thomas will also be in plenty of rumors.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• Yahoo Sports (May 21, 2026): Covers Frank Seravalli's offseason trade board, listing Kyrou, Binnington, Thomas, and Parayko as Blues players featured.
  
  sports.yahoo.com
• The Athletic and others: Earlier pieces (April-May 2026) reference deadline discussions involving all three, with possibilities of rekindling talks in the summer. Kyrou has the most persistent rumors, often described as available for a "king's ransom" (high-end player + top prospect + 1st-round pick). Thomas trades would be "franchise-altering" with a steep price, and Parayko's situation depends on direction under new management (he blocked a prior deal)."

These are largely all speculation. I’d venture there’s some grounds to the available for x + x and x but the Xs are so general it’s not really easy to pinpoint down.

What is a high-end player + top prospect + 1st round pick? Is it Norris + Helenius + Buffalos 1st or is it Nichuskin + Brinkley + a 1st in 29 from Colorado, and what is franchise altering and a steep price tag if steep is different than high end player + pick + 1st. What is steep for Kyrou and what is steep for Thomas.

My point is I’m sure Armstrong/Steen are taking any calls that they get on any player and have to seriously consider any direction they’re being offered to go. But as Doug Armstrong said in his end of year press conference , Doug Armstrong views the price of Robert Thomas as immense and more than anyone else was willing to pay at that point in time.

Insiders moved way too far into speculation to maintain a business which I get, and how often do they get things right? I’m sure if something was put out there there was generally a tip of a conversation being had, but to what degree is that.

I think most of us are very aware that Thomas could be moved. But I think most of us are also very aware that we just watched Armstrong trade Faulk and Schenn, players who over the past 3 years up and down most of us thought weren’t really tradable and get 15 + 29 + other smaller pieces in the deal. And moving those players made a lot more sense than moving a 26 year old 1C.

 

[Reality Czech]

If St Louis is trying to do a full rebuild, I could see this.

Which no one has ever suggested, so it makes the thread pointless. Will McKenna end up having a better career than Thomas? Possibly but it's far from a guarantee.

Fans always overrate prospects and draft picks. Why trade a legit #1C+ for a guy who might be as good in 5 or so years?

 

[SNAPU]

If anything it should be TOR looking to rip it to the studs for a full rebuild. Lock down as many promising youngsters as possible who will be locked up in their primes concurrent to McKenna (or Stenberg) incase this 1OA actually does become 'all that'.

After the Olympics Army handed the reigns to the kids and told them 'we have a plan forward, now is your chance to change our minds'. The kids stepped up huge and changed 'the plan'. Given big roles they were instrumental in a 17-5-3 finish (projects to a 122 point season). Toronto on the other hand went 5-15-5 after the break (a 49 point season). They're very old, uninspired, and extremely likely to be "Marnered" by AM34 in a couple years. They really should get all they can for Matthews ASAP and trade several other vets and burn it to the ground. They should be looking to build something that might compete with the other ascending young teams in the East after being gifted 1OA in this lottery. Are Leaf's really looking to make a tweak and somehow sneak in for another R1 exit? Would be a stupid plan IMO.

That's simply NOT where STL is now and why this rumor is so fundamentally ridiculous.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

If leafs draft McKenna and trade Reilly etc then it's a rebuild and flyers and bruins get a top 5 talent in the next 2 years it's that simple. If they get Thomas etc then the picks go lower.

lol how is Rielly the determinant ? Hes been very poor the last 2 seasons . If anything the team d should improve w a capable replacement/ his exodus .

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

If anything it should be TOR looking to rip it to the studs for a full rebuild. Lock down as many promising youngsters as possible who will be locked up in their primes concurrent to McKenna (or Stenberg) incase this 1OA actually does become 'all that'.

After the Olympics Army handed the reigns to the kids and told them 'we have a plan forward, now is your chance to change our minds'. The kids stepped up huge and changed 'the plan'. Given big roles they were instrumental in a 17-5-3 finish (projects to a 122 point season). Toronto on the other hand went 5-15-5 after the break (a 49 point season). They're very old, uninspired, and extremely likely to be "Marnered" by AM34 in a couple years. They really should get all they can for Matthews ASAP and trade several other vets and burn it to the ground. They should be looking to build something that might compete with the other ascending young teams in the East after being gifted 1OA in this lottery. Are Leaf's really looking to make a tweak and somehow sneak in for another R1 exit? Would be a stupid plan IMO.

That's simply NOT where STL is now and why this rumor is so fundamentally ridiculous.

This same team quite literally won the division last year . Toronto was openly tanking ( and it worked ) so lol at pointing to that stretch as a legitimate sample . It’s not a perfect roster to be sure but to suggest there isn’t significant talent on it is silly . With their 1 sts out of their hands I expect them to try to stay competitive this year . Next year to me is where charges might come imo.

 

[SNAPU]

This same team quite literally won the division last year . Toronto was openly tanking ( and it worked ) so lol at pointing to that stretch as a legitimate sample . It’s not a perfect roster to be sure but to suggest there isn’t significant talent on it is silly . With their 1 sts out of their hands I expect them to try to stay competitive this year . Next year to me is where charges might come imo.

Same team with no Marner? I hope you're spot on. I've been pulling for the Leafs forever. They've always been my favorite franchise in the East. Was absolutely sick when it appeared we had FLA down 3-zip then quit competing a couple years ago. This just seems like the time to go full in on a rebuild in my estimation. You mentioned talent, I agree. But to me that's vet talent they can hopefully trade for more value now than waiting a year. Comparing those finishes I was simply hoping to illustrate the current direction of both franchises referenced in this particular rumor (my two fav teams BTW). That's why this rumor doesn't seem plausible.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Same team with no Marner? I hope you're spot on. I've been pulling for the Leafs forever. They've always been my favorite franchise in the East. Was absolutely sick when it appeared we had FLA down 3-zip then quit competing a couple years ago. This just seems like the time to go full in on a rebuild in my estimation. You mentioned talent, I agree. But to me that's vet talent they can hopefully trade for more value now than waiting a year. Comparing those finishes I was simply hoping to illustrate the current direction of both franchises referenced in this particular rumor (my two fav teams BTW). That's why this rumor doesn't seem plausible.

No Marner affected the team for sure but not 30 pts worth . The goalies and team d were a big issue as well as the health in general of the team . Berube system didn’t really fit the personnel . I think adding an impact young player will help , but I’m more curious to see what they do w the 22 ish million ( could be more of Domi is missing significant time like they are predicting )in available cap dollars . Hoping invest heavy in d, whether trade or UFA ( which is thin) .

 

[SirPaste]

Value comes from:

1.He might surpass Thomas status (Kuch/Kane peak)
2.Thomas is 27 and is only controlled for 4 more years for sure, McKenna is controlled for at least 8 more years
3.The other asset in Hildeby who has 1G upside and can be a great partner/pusher of Hofer making Binnington entirely expendable
4.After losing Thomas, the other players are more likely to waive and not be around for the rebuild
5.After gaining the overall assets for them, the team can bottom out for a year or two as opposed to needing to bottom out for 4+ years post Thomas
6.It would lock up two positions as search complete in having McKenna/Carboneau at the wing and Hildeby/Hofer in net, they could focus on adding to a good defensive prospect pool and a good center pool which as a whole may be one more piece away from being unreal and they may get that piece this draft leaving the next two as the creation of an absolutely disgusting and young team

Not that the Leafs would do that for Thomas alone, I'm a big proponent of his value, but that package is basically enough to get most players in the league, Thomas factoring in contract wise may be valued around 20-30 overall, but not nearly at the top of the league.

I guess we'll see what happens next year with the Blues and their prospects, will be interesting because they are good prospects, but we'll see if they can come in and be great or if it's just more of the same.

Seems like you spent a lot of time on this even though it’s apparent you have absolutely zero clue about where the Blues are at and what they are trying to do

 

[eojsmada]

Which no one has ever suggested, so it makes the thread pointless. Will McKenna end up having a better career than Thomas? Possibly but it's far from a guarantee.

Fans always overrate prospects and draft picks. Why trade a legit #1C+ for a guy who might be as good in 5 or so years?

I don't know...why has Thomas been linked to about a dozen different trades? If Kyrou, Parayko, Thomas, and Binnington have all been linked to trades, I'm not sure how that isn't considered a rebuild.

 

[Reality Czech]

I don't know...why has Thomas been linked to about a dozen different trades? If Kyrou, Parayko, Thomas, and Binnington have all been linked to trades, I'm not sure how that isn't considered a rebuild.

Because journalists need clicks. Most of the "rumors" are just people spitballing (and low-balling with their trade offers). Very few if any of these offers are coming from people linked to the Blues.

There has been no indication the Blues are headed towards a full tear down rebuild. Personally I think Armstrong floats some of these names to wake up his team. And if someone wants to overpay then he's happy to listen. But based on recent comments from both sides, I don't think a Thomas trade is very likely.

I'll grant you that if we were looking for a total rebuild, then a trade involving #1 and Thomas might make sense but that's not what we're doing right now.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Saw this and wanted to gauge the response on it.

1st Overall
Hidelby

For

Thomas
Parayko

It's probably been said - but on what planet do Thomas and Parayko make the Leafs a Cup contender?

 

[NVious]

Seems like you spent a lot of time on this even though it’s apparent you have absolutely zero clue about where the Blues are at and what they are trying to do

No I got a clue:

Thomas is the last 1C ever drafted, the Blues will never be able to draft a 1C ever again
The Blues prospects which no one ranks as blue chips are all going to play like blue chips
The Blues players which look good will only become better, there is no chance of decline, only improvements
Although the Blues went nowhere with prime Thomas, Binnington, Kyrou and Parayko, now that 3/4 of those guys have declined a ton, the non blue chippers and good players are just sooooo much better than them, it's going to be different

Personally I'd rather take the best prospect pool in the league and bottom out a year or two and then be back. I think that has way higher odds than the above, but the Blues are free to try the above as well. Nobody can really predict anything and sometimes being a homer and overvaluing what you have can indeed workout.

 

[Mike Liut]

No I got a clue:

Thomas is the last 1C ever drafted, the Blues will never be able to draft a 1C ever again
The Blues prospects which no one ranks as blue chips are all going to play like blue chips
The Blues players which look good will only become better, there is no chance of decline, only improvements
Although the Blues went nowhere with prime Thomas, Binnington, Kyrou and Parayko, now that 3/4 of those guys have declined a ton, the non blue chippers and good players are just sooooo much better than them, it's going to be different

Personally I'd rather take the best prospect pool in the league and bottom out a year or two and then be back. I think that has way higher odds than the above, but the Blues are free to try the above as well. Nobody can really predict anything and sometimes being a homer and overvaluing what you have can indeed workout.

Or keep adding pieces the next couple years. Blues have 3 - 1sts and can gain more assets by trading Kyrou and Parayko. They already have a strong young core a good prospect pool.

 

[jmwc95]

And Binnington, too

Our backup goalie? Who cares. And Thomas was never on the block.

 

[jmwc95]

Thomas for 1st overall I guarantee you STL management would jump all over that. Aging slow D man no thanks.

I guarantee you they wouldn’t. Not for McKenna. Or Hischier, Power, Lafreniere, and >1/3 of all number 1s that aren’t franchise players.