Potential Trade Packages for Robert Thomas
Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff: Ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, Di Marco looks at the possible trade packages for three teams, the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers, that have the potential to acquire Robert Thomas. As Di Marco has stated in his article and on TSN Radio in Montreal, the Blues are looking for the equivalent of four first-round picks.
The rumoured Sabres-Blues trade involving Thomas was for a first-round pick, Konsta Helenius, Owen Power, and Jack Quinn. This is the model he goes off of. Let’s dive into the potential packages.
Boston Bruins
The package would see a first-round pick, James Hagens, Matthew Poitras, and Mason Lohrei to St. Louis for Thomas. This is a significant haul as the Bruins have four first-round picks, and they could use one of them here. Again, Thomas isn’t a need; defence is more of a need, but adding a player of Thomas’s ilk would boost the forward core. Again, the Bruins and Blues have been talking about Justin Faulk. But the sticking point is Hagens, whom the Bruins covet.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens continue to be linked to Robert Thomas. He feels a need at the second-line center position. The package would be Owen Beck, Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, and a first-round pick. Adding Thomas gives the Canadiens a great one-two punch down the middle. There is hesitation to move Hage, given his production in the NCAA and his high level of hype. Not to mention, the Canadiens have been burned in the past when moving out a prospect.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers package would include Bobby Brink, Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, and a first-round pick to St. Louis for Thomas. The Flyers are looking to take the next step. Martone was a steal for the Flyers at the draft in 2025. Brink is an RFA that the Blues can slot into their lineup now, and Bonk could play on the back end if they move a defenseman.
NHLRumors.com Note: The asking price is high for Thomas, as it should be for a 26-year-old center. Unless the Blues move off their asking price, there is a good chance he stays unless a team like the Utah Mammoth steps up and is ready to move out some of their future assets. Teams aren’t willing to give what Blues GM Doug Armstrong wants yet.
Are the Wild Out on Trocheck?
Michael Russo of The Athletic: Russo writes that the Minnesota Wild are fading as of now with the regards to Vincent Trocheck. The price is too high for Wild GM Bill Guerin at this point. The Wild spent a lot of assets to get Quinn Hughes and may not have the assets to get Trocheck, who has three years left at $5.625 million AAV.
Where Will Vincent Trocheck Land?
Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic: As of Wednesday night, there was a belief that Vincent Trocheck would be traded. Whether it is Minnesota who has Charlie Stramel as part of the package or Danila Yurov, but the Wild said no go on that.
While Minnesota is in the clubhouse, Mercogliano wonders what the package from the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes would look like. Given that Trocheck has made it clear he doesn’t want to go West, that takes the Utah Mammoth and others out of the mix. Could the Buffalo Sabres be a dark horse in the Trocheck sweepstakes?