This is as good of a place as any to ask the question. Is Robert Thomas a building-block for this club, bordering on untouchable? Or has some of the luster started to come off after an injury plagued third season?
Yes - the Blues need cost-controlled players with upside to step into a top-6 roll. Yes, they need young skaters capable of becoming part of the next core. Yes they love his talent and pedigree. And after trading away a young center who went on to become a HOF'er in 'Rod the Bod', Blues fans would have to be a little hesitant about pulling the trigger on a deal featuring somebody who has been compared to Patrice Bergeron.
But...there's probably not a more valuable asset on the roster that could be used to improve the team. Taking away actual top-line talent creates a hole that doesn't exist if they're merely trading away a potential, future top-line player, such as Thomas. And if we're looking at the roster from a position of strength that can be used to shore up a weakness, I'd more than comfortable dealing a forward, even a center, knowing what's in the system now and coming through the ranks in the next 2-3 seasons. The fact that he is the last guy signed isn't meaningless, even if there's no chance that a guy like Sanford is valued by the club more than RT. I guess I'm wondering what it would take for everyone to part with Robert Thomas, or if he's simply too important to the franchise to consider parting with at this time?
I see ROR, Schenn, Bozak, Sunny down the middle...and if needed Sanford/Barby/Joshua for 4C duties....with Alexandrov coming quickly and Bolduc also in the C-mix amongst the Blues top-end prospects, and think of all the possibilities for trade targets that would command RT as part of the return package. While that may have once seemed unfathomable; I'm not so sure the Blues' couldn't suitably replace him easier than they could, say, a top-4 LHD.