Should the Bruins Trade for Robert Thomas? Breaking Down the Fit
The Dallas Stars dominate the Boston Bruins, and Dominic Tinao drops a little nugget that the Boston Bruins and the St.Louis Blues might be involved in some trade talk. Could this mean the Bruins are targeting Robert Thomas?
Brian DeFelice from The Puck Ups and the Skate Pod drops by to talk about this and so much more on the latest episode of the Bruins Diehards Podcast.
#nhlbruins #bostonbruins #bostonbruinsnews
Time Stamp
Intro 00:00
Dallas Domination 2:44
Missed Trades 9:33
Robert Thomas? 27:00
Geekie Slump 49:41
Games Ahead 55:46
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47 Comments
What would it cost to get Robert Thomas?
I want the bruins to keep our draft picks but the bruins scouts have failed us time and time again
You are killing it with the guests lately!
It will probably cost something like Hagens, both ‘26 1sts, Zacha, maybe another pick. Most fans will balk and say something way less than that but with Thomas‘ contract St. Louis will want a small galaxy. It’s not that crazy. Everybody overvalues their own players. You HOPE Hagens turns into a 90+ point center in the NHL, unfortunately, I don’t see any clear indication that will happen. You HOPE you draft a Robert Thomas with one of those picks, but Sweeney‘s draft history and the projected landing spot of those picks says there’s almost no chance. You WISH Zacha was a Robert Thomas, but he never will be (as hot as he’s been, he’s on pace for 59 points which precisely matches his production over the past three years) and by the time you re-sign him, he will cost as much as Thomas does for the next six years. Again, this is a point per game cost controlled center at just over 8 million through 2031. I’m not saying I would do it, but it would be nothing short of stupid not to seriously weigh all options. Very few players on this roster should be 100% untouchable in a deal of that magnitude.
Yes yes yes!!!!
100% yes, the Bruins should trade for Robert Thomas
You don't win Stanley Cups without a real 1C
Don Sweeney has also already signed his new core long term in Pasta, Swayman, McAvoy, both Lindholms, Geekie, Zadorov, Minten & he'll likely re-sign Zacha
Lohrei, Aspirot, Steeves, Jeannot, Kastelic, Kuraly & Jokiharju are all signed beyond this year as well
Additionally, Don Sweeney has never built through the draft, he's not going to start doing it now & would you even want him to considering his terrible prospect development record since 2015?
65 draft picks, across 11 drafts since 2015
Only 3 of those 65 play in Boston today in Lohrei, McAvoy & Swayman
Don Sweeney doesn't build through the draft
That's not even mentioning that all James Hagans may become one day is Robert Thomas in 3-5 years
The keyword here "may"
If that were to happen, great but guess what…
1Cs very rarely become available via trade or as UFAs
Bruins fans will scream that's what Boston needs, a real 1C
Than they'll say Robert Thomas stinks & they have to hold onto Hagans, an unknown that may never develop into anything
If Sweensy traded Hagans, a 1st & Poitras for Robert Thomas most fans around here would blast him for it
However, the reality of trading for Thomas would instantly solve their 1C issue while also instantly making them a much more credible & viable Cup threat for the next 3-5 years
Draft picks & prospects are lottery cards
You can scratch off 20 tickets & still have nothimg to show for it
Robert Thomas is already a winning lottery ticket
He's coming off back to 80+ point seasons despite playing for that dumpster fire in STL
Hagans is not the next Connor McDavid or Nathan Mckinnon
He doesn't have that kind of ceiling
His ceiling?
More like Robert Thomas & again, who knows if Hagans can ever develop into that
Trade for Robert Thomas ASAP
If the cost is Hagans, a 1st & Poitras….
That's perfectly fine
A real 1C is far more valuable than a maybe in Hagans & 1 of the 5, 1st round draft picks the Bruins have coming to them over the next 3 years
They aren't going to use all those 1sts anyway people, this is Don Sweeney we're talking about here
Why not use one of them on Robert Thomas?
Hagans & a 1st would be a steep price
But it's a price worth paying
1:26 did you just say Marco Sturm's signature line? 😁
I'm assuming once Donny said no to Hagens, THE framework Armstrong would ask for is a 1st round pick & Will Zellers
I would love grabbing Thomas. Another name being talked about is Shane wright is apparently available for a top six forward.
If I'm Swayman during that game, I'd be saying to myself " fuck it, If my team=mates aren't gonna try, I'm not either".
The Panthers were Garry's darlings for a while there. Now they've won twice I think the refs aren't babying them the way they were before. I still can't believe they were allowed to choke Frederic unconscious and nobody cared
I hope they won't… Yes Thomas is quite young but we have to behave like we are not chasing playoffs. With those two 1st round picks this year I hope we can get a RSD and another centre. We were totally lucky Hagens got to us (projected 2nd line C, probably 1C) and some people want to just throw him in some deal? You don't waste high 1st round picks to make a trade with them. If they do something along these lines I'm just done with this franchise… Chasing short term "solutions" to just get butchered in the long run
Lohrie , Potrias and Toronto’s first rounder for Thomas. That means we got Thomas and Minten for Brandon Carlo win win . Do it if the blues okay with it 💯
Two 1st for Thomas and Parayko at the draft?
I wonder if they pulled Swayman earlier if it would have gotten a response before it got out of hand?
Thanks for having me on, Court! It was awesome meeting you 😎Long live Bruins Diehards and of course – Go Bs ked
It would cost you hagens a couple of picks and maybe a Zacha or a Lindholm or minten
I’m surprised that no one picked up on the Dallas Dive Team.
If Hagens reaches 100% of his potential he still won’t be the player Thomas is. I’d trade Hagens AND other assets for him yesterday
The Bruins should not abandon the soft rebuild for a 1st / 2nd round exit. We are overperforming this year and that is OK! We need to keep stockpiling assets, not trading them away. At least not in the form of draft picks. If we can move Lysell or Poitras, so be it, because we have seemed to give up on them already anyway.
Would you do the same rumored trade package for Hronek? Or would you have to do more for his term? would love that way more than Anderson signed and a year younger.
If you notice the opening of every Bruins broadcast on NESN, Pasta's face is shown first by himself. McAvoy is shown with other players.
Pasta is the Captain.
Great show Court.
Blues are not doing this kind of trade they will retool around their solide young guns group: Thomas, Neighbours, Holloway, Snuggerud, Dvorsky, Broberg, Tucker, Mailloux, Hoffer…Blues are in a much better place than the Bruins for a healthy retool!
Happy we didn’t trade out young pieces. Yes it’s nice to trade out of those pieces for talent that can help us right now, but like you guys eluded to, the Bruins don’t have a great track record of prospects. We should be sitting on all the prospects that we can. The guys that have had multiple chances to make that jump, Lysell, I don’t feel bad with moving on from. For as many holes as this team has, getting rid of pieces should be their last idea.
Bruins are in danger of finishing in the worst possible spot, middle of the pack. If they can trade a first rounder for good young talent they can sign to an extension, they need to do it. They should already be taking calls for deadline deals.
Is Sturm the guy? Lot of undisciplined penalties and inconsistent play.
54:31 Very surprised that two names were not discussed during the “best passer in B’s history” portion…
Ray Bourque and David Krejci.
STL: Thomas and Parayko
BOS: Hagens, bos 2026 1st, Peeke, and Florida 2027 1st
Do you think that is fair?
Yes, make the trade.
I think you’re underestimating the trade offer that would be needed to acquire Thomas.
Hagens, 2026 first, 2027 first is probably what it takes.
I realize Thomas has a no-trade clause, and thus his privilege to pick his destination might limit St. Louis’ leverage … a little.
At the same time, St. Louis isn’t under pressure to move Thomas, at all. Thomas would still have the same trade value next year as he does right now.
49:45
That early-season 33% shooting percentage (and 50-goals pace) was ultra-ripe for some negative regression to the mean. I said so at the time. Morgan’s shooting percentage has dropped down to (a way more realistic) 22%. I think he’ll finish the season (barring injury) with (about) 37 goals, which is fantastic for a versatile forward earning $5.5M AAV.
44:20 Court, I would really love to hear your reasoning on this.
Recently, you’ve now gone on-record stating that you think the “ceiling” for BOTH Fraser Minten and James Hagens is the same: “NHL 2C”.
I realize the two men have different strengths & weaknesses within their individual skill sets. Aside from that, though, you seem to be opining that both players’ net/sum potential is essentially equal.
At a $8,125,000 Cap hit for a couple of 20+ goal season would be worse than the Lindholm signing. It's bad enough the Bruins got suckered into taking over Middlestadt salary. Robert Thomas stats does not justify his salary.
Great content as usual. Love the conversation with guests!
I'd give Hagens, Poitras, Lohrei and the 2027 first for Thomas. However, I'd hate to see Poitras reunited with Monty. Would like to see him traded somewhere where he would get a legitimate chance to prove himself.
Rob Thomas yes
Sorry Court, but personally Bourque was the best passer in bruins history.
If your getting Thomas. And Lindholm goes 2 c center and zacha goes 3 c where do you put minten?
Potrias wants out of Boston
You say that a captain can't be in the box every game. But Pasta also takes a lot of penalties too. I do think he is the captain next year
my two favorite Bruins talking heads. this is gonna be a good one.
For once I’d say yes. Robert Thomas is the closest thing to the legit 1C the Bruins need to unleash the full Pasta potential. Thomas might be the perfect complement to Pasta. Double playmaker is such a strong combo to have, plus Pasta is capable of creating those empty net plays for his team mates, so he could push Thomas’ goal output higher.
I would open the system and picks for Thomas, except Hagens to much upside to already want to ship him out.
I would also hope they are able to recoup some assest by selling on some guys this deadline.
But can 2 1st, zeller, and a guy from Providence get you close enough (to add some less premium) to get it over the finish line? Wouldn't they also have to move money to make a deal? So that would be someone off the roster as well.
Hello! yes yes yes. Depends on what they want.
Court, dominated yes. Easy 2 get dominated when your in the FUCKING box. NHL is bullshit.
I would actually be ok to put geekie in a package for a 1c.
My guess is that the smoke is more about Parayko. If I'm STL, this might be the highest value he would have going forward and he is in / just about out of his prime. I think Parayko is an ideal target for a re-tooling team, especially one run by a former all star defenceman. I think Lohrei makes sense as a STL target as well, younger than Parayko and someone who could grow with Neighbours & Co. The better of the two 1sts next year plus Lohrei is a good offer IMO.