Flyers Trade Talk: Robert Thomas’ Fit in Philly

It is trade board season, and while they may not be in a position to be buyers at the moment, the perfect center for the Philadelphia Flyers may be available.

On Chris Johnston of The Athletic’s trade board 4.0, St. Louis Blues centerman Robert Thomas was listed as the No. 15 player on his trade board. If truly available, Thomas would be the perfect No. 1 center for the Flyers.

Thomas, 26, is in year 3 of an eight-year deal that carries a $8.125 million cap hit. One of the many challenges when trading for Thomas, however, is that this is the first season of his full no-trade clause, which goes through the 2029-30 season, and shrinks to 15 teams in 2030-31, the final year of his deal.

The Blues’ No. 1 center has 118 goals, 311 assists, and 429 total points in 508 career NHL games. He has a career rating of +43. In his rookie season (2018-19), Thomas played a role in the Blues’ Stanley Cup Championship over the Boston Bruins.

In his past two seasons, Thomas has scored over 80 points, posting 26 goals and 86 points in 2023-24, and 21 goals and 81 points in 2024-25. Yes, that’s back-to-back 60 assist seasons. Over the last four seasons, Thomas has not gone below 65 points (2022-23), which was a down year from his 77 the year prior (2021-22).

So, the elevator pitch on Thomas: Robert Thomas is a young, controllable, true No. 1 center who can score 20+ goals, 50-60 assists, and 70-80 points a year, while being an excellent two-way player.

If he truly is available, the Flyers have to go all in to acquire the star center. The question becomes, will the Blues actually trade him?

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Would the Blues actually trade Robert Thomas?

If Robert Thomas is so great, would the Blues actually trade him? Well, they are in a down year despite making the playoffs last season, and are considered to be one of the primary sellers at the trade deadline.

The Blues, like the Canucks, Rangers, and Flames, are going to draw plenty of trade interest from a number of players. It’s not the biggest rental market, so that could spark more interest in players with term, leading to higher prices.

On Johnston’s trade board, he writes that nothing is off the table for the Blues. To me, that signals a player like Thomas is not actively being shopped. Instead, it seems they are willing to listen to offers for the player. That being said, an offer for Thomas has to be one that they cannot turn down.

I don’t think Johnston would have included Thomas if there was not any belief that St. Louis would at least listen to offers. That said, he would be a perfect fit for the Flyers.

Robert Thomas would be a perfect fit for the Flyers

It’s no secret that the Flyers don’t have a No. 1 center in the pipeline or even on the current roster. So, right away, you can see Thomas fit on the Flyers as a clear top-line center.

However, it goes beyond that. The Flyers’ best goal scorers are wingers. They need someone who can feed them and set them up for big plays. That is Robert Thomas. 311 career assists and counting during his eight years in the league so far. Thomas playing between two of Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Trevor Zegras (if he stays on the wing), or even Owen Tippett could be absolutely lethal.

To that point, most of the Flyers’ wingers are extremely offensive-minded and not the most reliable on the other end. Philadelphia has typically leaned on defensive-minded centers to play down the middle. Right now, they have Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier; all defensive-minded, two-way centermen. Thomas would fit in well with that trend.

The difference between the Flyers’ current centers and Thomas is that while they’re all extremely responsible, Thomas can also give you elite offensive production. Philly could use a center like that.

Thomas is also above average at the dot, which again has been something the Flyers covet.

Not to mention, the acquisition of a player like Thomas would end the biggest question around the Flyers’ rebuild: the lack of a No. 1 center.

Finally, he’s just 26 years old. Thomas will turn 27 on July 2nd. Thomas is just entering his prime, which fits the Flyers’ timeline.

No. 1 centers don’t often become available. When they do, it becomes even more rare that he fits the team’s needs, play style, and timeline. Thomas fits all of that for the Flyers.

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What would the Flyers have to give?

Getting Thomas will not come cheap. Those same reasons he should be an attractive option for the Flyers are also the reasons the Blues will demand a massive return.

It won’t be just picks, it won’t be just prospects, and it definitely won’t be just an NHL player. Robert Thomas will fetch the St. Louis Blues a massive combination, including possibly all of the above.

The package will start at a first-round pick, possibly even two. Fortunately for the Flyers, they have three over the next two drafts combined. They could make it even more, depending on other moves closer to the deadline.

At least one top prospect will be required. Given that Porter Martone was off the table for Quinn Hughes, it’s a safe bet that he’d be off the table here. So, Jett Luchanko or Jack Nesbitt will likely be the focal point.

To me, I can see Luchanko intriguing the Blues. He is the closer to pro-ready of the two and plays the same two-way style Thomas plays.

Still, that is not enough.

To get St. Louis to even pick up the phone, you need to overpay. That would mean at least another prospect and a player, or a younger NHL player with a higher ceiling.

If I am the Flyers, everyone and everything is on the table except Martone and Michkov.

Would you make the trade for Robert Thomas?

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