Sabres Eyeing Robert Thomas as Potential Playoff Catalyst - But the Price Tag Is Steep
The Buffalo Sabres are knocking on the postseason door for the first time since 2011, and while their recent surge has fans dreaming of playoff hockey in Western New York, the final stretch before the Olympic break revealed some vulnerabilities that can’t be overlooked.
Buffalo dropped three of its last four games before the NHL paused for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the losses weren’t just on the scoreboard. Injuries have started to pile up - most notably to center Josh Norris.
Norris has been productive when available, racking up 17 points in 19 games this season, but availability has been a recurring issue. His injury history casts a long shadow, and it’s tough to build a playoff push around a player who can’t stay in the lineup.
Which brings us to Robert Thomas.
The 26-year-old center from the St. Louis Blues is one of the marquee names on the market ahead of the NHL trade deadline, and Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen has the assets to make a serious run at him. But make no mistake - it won’t come cheap.
According to multiple reports, Blues GM Doug Armstrong is asking for a massive return - something in the ballpark of three top-15 caliber assets, whether that’s picks, prospects, or a mix of both. That’s a tall order, but for a player like Thomas, it might just be worth the swing.
What a Norris-Included Deal Could Look Like
From a cap standpoint, the cleanest path to acquiring Thomas - who carries an $8.125 million AAV - is to include Norris ($7.95 million AAV) in the deal. That swap keeps the books balanced and avoids any gymnastics to stay compliant.
Thomas is currently recovering from a lower-body procedure, but he’s expected back when NHL play resumes. Before the break, he was playing at an All-Star level, and since the start of the 2021-22 season, he’s posted 342 points in 339 games - that’s elite production from the middle of the ice.
Even with Norris in the mix, the Sabres shouldn’t expect a discount. His injury history has dulled his trade value, and including him would be more about clearing cap space than sweetening the pot. It would also be an implicit admission that the previous front office may have miscalculated by betting on Norris as a long-term centerpiece.
A potential deal could look something like this:
To Buffalo:
- Robert Thomas
- 2026 seventh-round pick
To St. Louis:
- Josh Norris
- Noah Ostlund
- Isak Rosen
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2026 fourth-round pick
That’s a hefty haul for St. Louis - a mix of NHL-ready talent, high-upside prospects, and valuable draft capital.
Ostlund is carving out a nice rookie campaign and looks like a future middle-six mainstay. Rosen has shown flashes of top-six offensive potential in the AHL.
And Norris, when healthy, is a proven point producer.
But from Buffalo’s perspective, this is about locking in a player who’s not only productive but also under contract through 2030-31. That kind of term provides stability at a premium position. And with a prospect like Konsta Helenius waiting in the wings, the Sabres could absorb the loss of Ostlund without missing a beat.
Rosen’s path to the NHL is already a bit blocked, and if Buffalo makes the playoffs, that 2026 first-rounder might land in the 20s - not exactly a blue-chip selection. So while the price is steep, it’s not reckless. It’s the kind of calculated risk that contending teams make when they believe their window is starting to open.
What If the Blues Don’t Want Norris?
If St. Louis isn’t interested in taking on Norris’ contract - which runs through 2029-30 - things get a lot more complicated for Buffalo.
To make the cap work, the Sabres would need to get creative. That could mean placing Jordan Greenway on LTIR, shopping Jack Quinn, or even considering moving key pieces like Owen Power or Bowen Byram in the offseason. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might also become a cap casualty, depending on how things shake out.
And if Norris isn’t moved at the deadline, trading him in the summer won’t be easy. There may be interest, but it’s unlikely Buffalo could offload his full salary without sweetening the deal - especially given his injury history.
Still, if the Sabres want to go all-in on Thomas, it’s a scenario worth exploring.
A revised trade might look like this:
To Buffalo:
- Robert Thomas
- 2026 seventh-round pick
To St. Louis:
- Noah Ostlund
- Isak Rosen
- Adam Kleber
- Colten Ellis or Devon Levi
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2026 sixth-round pick
This version doesn’t include Norris but still delivers four top-50 assets to the Blues. Ostlund (16th overall in 2022), Rosen (14th in 2021), and Kleber (42nd in 2024) all carry significant value. Add in a first-rounder and a goalie prospect - with Ellis having ties to the Blues organization - and the package checks a lot of boxes for a team looking to retool.
St. Louis doesn’t get as much immediate NHL talent in this version, but they gain financial flexibility and a deeper prospect pool. That’s not nothing for a club eyeing a longer-term rebuild.
The Wild Card: Thomas’ No-Trade Clause
Of course, all of this hinges on one key factor: whether Robert Thomas is even open to joining the Sabres. He holds a full no-trade clause, and if he’s not interested in heading to Buffalo, the conversation ends there.
But if he is? Then this is a move that could reshape the Sabres’ trajectory for years.
Buffalo could still opt for a more conservative approach at the deadline - perhaps adding a rental winger with scoring touch or a physical blueliner to round out the roster. That might be the safer play, especially if the front office wants to keep its core intact and revisit bigger moves in the summer.
But the big decisions are coming, whether it’s now or later. If the Sabres want to keep Alex Tuch - who’s reportedly eyeing a deal north of $10.5 million annually - they’ll need to make room. That could mean parting with young talent or moving on from contracts that no longer fit the long-term plan.
So why not take the swing now?
Landing Robert Thomas wouldn’t just be a win-now move - it would be a signal that Buffalo believes its time has arrived. And while the cost is high, the potential payoff - a dynamic, playmaking center locked in for the next half-decade - could be exactly what the Sabres need to finally turn the corner.