“Exciting to be in St. Louis for eight more years” – Robert Thomas signs eight-year, $65 million extension with Blues


“Exciting to be in St. Louis for eight more years” – Robert Thomas signs eight-year, $65 million extension with Blues

Robert Thomas

Canadian ice hockey centre Robert Thomas signed an eight-year, $65 million contract (average annual value of $8.125 million) extension with the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. Notably, the contract starts in 2023-24 and will keep the youngster with the Blues through the 2030-31 season.

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Thomas, who could have become a restricted free agent at the end of next season, marking the last of the two-year, $5.6 million contract ($2.8 million annual average value) he signed on September 21, 2021. The Aurora native had six points (two goals, four assists) in 12 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Blues were eliminated in six games by the tournament champions Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Second Round. 

“Yeah, I think it’s pretty cool,” Thomas said, as quoted by NHL.com. “I think being able to be in St. Louis for eight more years is so exciting.”

“We look at Thomas as centrepiece of our organization”

Robert Thomas
Robert Thomas

Robert Thomas had NHL career highs last season in goals (20), assists (57) and points (77) in 72 games. Moreover, his 57 assists were the most by any Blues player since Pavol Demitra also had 57 in the 2002-03 season.

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We look at him as the centrepiece of our organization moving forward,” St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong said. “It reminds me actually of signing (defenseman Alex) Pietrangelo and (forward Vladimir) Tarasenko, both coming off their age 22 [season], we signed them to long-term deals. We felt they were cornerstone players. We feel that’s Robert.”

“From the minute I got there, I loved St. Louis, I was welcomed by the (Keith) Tkachuk family,” Thomas said. “I think that’s a good family to be welcomed by. Ever since then, I’ve loved playing for the Blues. I love the city, I love the people and I’m just so excited about that.”

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