Robert Thomas won’t be back in the St. Louis Blues’ lineup before the Olympic break, as the team announced the 26-year-old center underwent minor leg surgery and will return afterward.
It’s a setback, but not one that’s expected to derail St. Louis’ playoff hopes-though it could ripple into the trade deadline conversation.
Thomas has been out since January 10 and has missed a significant chunk of the month. Before the injury, he was putting together a solid campaign: 11 goals and 33 points through 42 games, logging nearly 19 minutes a night and carrying a -3 rating. His absence has left a noticeable gap down the middle, though the Blues have managed to stay afloat in the standings.
Now, while the Blues weren’t actively shopping Thomas, his name had surfaced in speculative trade chatter. But with the deadline looming shortly after the Olympic break, any team that might’ve been interested is likely pumping the brakes.
Even if Thomas is cleared in time, that’s a tight turnaround for a player coming off surgery-especially one with a hefty price tag attached. In all likelihood, he stays put, and the Blues focus on bolstering around him rather than moving him.
Around the Western Conference:
In Seattle, the Kraken will be without rookie forward Berkly Catton for the next three games leading into the Olympic break. The 18-year-old has shown flashes of promise in his first NHL season, despite some injury setbacks.
He missed time in December and is now dealing with an upper-body issue. Through 40 games, Catton has tallied five goals and 11 points-not earth-shattering numbers, but he's been carving out a role and gaining valuable experience on a young Seattle squad.
Meanwhile, in Colorado, the Avalanche were down a key piece this afternoon against the Red Wings-but it didn’t slow them down. Martin Nečas, the team’s second-leading scorer, was sidelined with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
The Avs still cruised to a win, showing off their depth. The good news?
Nečas isn’t expected to miss extended time and should be ready to go for Team Czechia at the Olympics.
And over in Nashville, the Predators were missing one of their most quietly effective blueliners tonight. Nick Blankenburg was ruled out due to illness, sitting out a game that could have playoff implications with the Preds tied in the standings with the Islanders.
Blankenburg has quietly put together a breakout season, setting career highs across the board. With six goals and 21 points in 43 games, he ranks eighth in team scoring-not bad for a guy who’s flown under the radar for most of his career.
As we inch closer to the Olympic break and the trade deadline beyond it, injuries and absences like these could shape how teams approach the stretch run. Whether it’s navigating short-term depth issues or recalibrating trade strategies, every roster move matters a little more this time of year.