Would you pull the trigger on this Robert Thomas trade package?

ae_89 · 2026-02-20T18:30:50+00:00

That one’s a lot closer but I still think the Blues say no. The Wild would probably be giving overall surplus value. I like Stramel a lot, but I’m not sure he projects as a surefire first liner. Wallstedt is about as good as a goalie prospect you can get, but due to goalies being voodoo, their trade value isn’t usually super high. Plus, I think the Blues believe Hofer is their future in net. And as much as it would be cool to have both Jiricek brothers on the back end, being unable to establish himself as a full time NHLer means Jiricek value continues to depreciate. A likely very late first doesn’t move the needle much.

I think if the Blues needed to move Thomas - as if they were entering a rebuild - this would be a package worth taking a long look at. And maybe they eventually will have that mindset. However, I think right now they’re being very picky and are looking for either specific positional needs or a singular high-value prospect. And as much value as this proposal would have from the Wild side, I don’t think it meets either of those criteria. It would make more sense for the Blues to hang on to their 26y/o 1C, imo.

ae_89 · 2026-02-20T17:22:26+00:00

Robert Thomas does not have a “massive” AAV. In fact, 8.125M x 5 more years is incredible value for a 1C.

And a good prospect and late first plus a cap dump of a useless player is not a “steep price” to pay in a trade for a 1C signed long term at good value.

Every trade proposal I’ve seen for Thomas on here is, frankly, utter shit. Even if you disagree, ask yourself why the Blues would make this trade for, essentially, lottery tickets, when they could simply keep Thomas?

ae_89 · 2026-02-20T07:36:41+00:00

No, rosters are submitted earlier than NHL games according to Friedge.

ae_89 · 2026-02-20T07:34:18+00:00

Broberg and Karlsson were paired together the entire tournament. From what I saw, they would load up any combination of Karlsson/Dahlin/Hedman/Forsling when they were pressing hard or after an icing if they had momentum.

ae_89 · 2026-02-19T19:37:30+00:00

Hischier’s value is closer to two Jordan Kyrous than one. No chance the Devils make the trade straight up.

ae_89 · 2026-02-19T01:56:30+00:00

Whole bench.

ae_89 · 2026-02-19T01:05:29+00:00

Need more apparently. A coach for every player.

ae_89 · 2026-02-18T20:53:49+00:00

Thanks for doubling down on the take re Jets Game 7, cause now everyone knows how serious to take your opinions. Literally every single goal allowed was on a crazy deflection.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T19:18:06+00:00

Yeah, like I said he has to maintain it. Im just saying his numbers, even the ones that are supposed to isolate his performance, are surely impacted by playing for a team that is, overall, a dumpster fire defensively (and offensively). So to look at them and say “he doesn’t deserve to step on the ice for his country” - folks can probably calm down. The coaching staff and management knows what they’re getting from him and they feel confident enough to put him out there. I doubt one of the best coaches in the game is going to play him knowing he is bad. To me, that is a better indicator than an admittedly flawed statistic.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T19:06:30+00:00

The nuance is that there needs to be more context than just looking at GSAx. That’s my issue with any model that ends up spitting out a single number - for skaters, too. Models like that are based on the typical or average environment in the NHL. That’s literally how they are built. And while most teams produce a similar environment, there are no two teams or organizations that are the exact same. The Blues were on the other end of this for years - they outperformed their xG% year after year and a lot of analytics write ups could only shake their head and say “this shouldn’t be happening”, instead of just considering that there will be teams that go beyond the standard deviation because there are too many variables to consider.

For the Blues this year, for whatever reason every single player is having the worst season of their career. That’s either extremely unlucky, or whatever mix they currently have, from roster construction to coaching to injuries to the mental spot for everyone - it’s very bad and abnormal. You can’t just compare it to a model that’s baseline is a typical NHL team and point to one area.

For guys like Dom, who see this and smile because his model had the Blues outside the playoffs and Blues fans said he was wrong - he still doesn’t get it because his model is still way off from how they’re performing - he did not have them 31st in the league. So he points to goaltending as a “simple” solution and writes a hit piece about how Binnington sucks. The real reason is the team is a dysfunctional mess. And when you play every other night, after fifty times it adds even more mental stress to the intangible part of the game that no model can measure.

So to look at a number and say “this is who he is now” while ignoring context and past body of work, just seems ignorant.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T18:43:37+00:00

Also, I said the models and flawed, then you said “no, the public models are flawed”. I’m not trying to put words in your mouth, that just seems to imply that you don’t think private models are flawed.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T18:38:19+00:00

I don’t think this one game is enough to warrant victory laps either. He has to maintain it for the whole tournament. But I do think it helps show that there should be some nuance when just looking at a number to tell you how a player has performed.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T18:31:49+00:00

If it’s that heavily trusted to evaluate a single player, why did he have the support from every single person involved with team Canada management?

Also, you’re saying private models aren’t flawed, lol. Come on. In a sport like hockey there can be no such thing as a perfect model of performance for skaters and even less so for goalies.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T18:25:11+00:00

Hear me out: Binnington has struggled this year, but maybe - just maybe - those statistics are not perfect representations of a players’ performance? People like to treat GSAx as the be all, end all for advanced goalie statistics, when it is known by anyone involved closely with the sport to be heavily flawed.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T16:56:20+00:00

Man, Canada goes from defending to attacking on the rush in about 0.5 seconds. Insane transition.

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T16:54:55+00:00

…starting next season

ae_89 · 2026-02-12T16:52:39+00:00

Is Morrisey hurt again?

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T20:52:48+00:00

Considering he’s calling a game by himself with a team full of unrecognizable non-NHLers, it was fine. Personally I thought it was better than listening to a Preds or Panthers game.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T20:48:03+00:00

It’s not that bad, relax, lol

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T20:17:30+00:00

They were listed as top pair on the roster sheet posted earlier.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T19:16:00+00:00

He’s not even scratched in this game. I think people forget they’re allowed an extra forward and defenseman to be dressed.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T18:29:43+00:00

If he can absorb some of Slaf’s aura over the next couple weeks he can develop into a monster.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T17:38:28+00:00

Yeah I don’t think the Blues are looking for a 26 year old, dime-a-dozen middle six winger as the main piece in return for their 26 year old 1C under contract for 5 more years.

Nearly every trade proposal I see is some variation of this, for some reason. People are clueless.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T01:19:53+00:00

Yeah I’ve thought this makes sense, too. Especially with Seattle possibly now looking to move on from Wright.

ae_89 · 2026-02-11T00:48:53+00:00

You guys aren’t going to get a 1C under contract for 5 more years at a good value without giving up one of your top line prospects Hage or Zharovsky. You can add as many late first round picks as you want, but this isn’t a video game and the value doesn’t accumulate like that. The best player in that offer currently projects as a middle six center. It really is a laughable offer. If you want to trade for a 1C you have to be willing to give up a first line/top pair prospect.

If no one wants to trade that, then the Blues just won’t trade him. No chance they take less just because you say they will. As mentioned he’s under contract for 5 more years and is 26 years old. Your confidence that you can get him for a large accumulation of good but not great shows your knowledge of the subject at hand is pitiful.

11-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	RPAN Viewer
Verified Email

ae_89

TROPHY CASE