St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas has been fulfilling his obligations as the top center for the team, and the 26-year-old is also earning every bit of the eight-year, $65-million contract he signed July 13, 2022.
NHL Network is also recognizing the Blues' No. 1 center on their list of top 20 in the league, checking in at No. 12 just ahead of Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho and behind New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes.
NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, Brian Boyle and Mike Rupp counted down the best centers based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2024-2025 regular season and 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, while also considering future upside. The Top 20 centers right now list collectively features 51 All-Star Game appearances, 12 Stanley Cups, 10 Ted Lindsay Awards, eight Hart Trophies, eight Art Ross Trophies, seven Maurice Richard Trophies, six All-Rookie Team honors, five Conn Smythe Trophies, three Frank J. Selke Trophies, two Calder Trophies, two Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, one King Clancy Memorial Trophy, one Mark Messier Leadership Award and one NHL’s 100 Greatest Players Award.
Thomas set career highs in goals (26), assists (60) and points (86) in 2023-24 playing in all 82 regular-season games and followed it up last season with 81 points (21 goals, 60 assists) but playing in 70 games after missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle blocking a shot Oct. 22, 2024 against the Winnipeg Jets.
Thomas finished last season with 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in a 12-game point streak that fueled the Blues into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in three seasons. They would lose to the Jets in seven games of the Western Conference First Round.
On his strong finish to the season, Thomas said, "Yeah, with team success comes some individual and I was very fortunate the way our team was playing to be able to produce like that. It takes the whole team for that kind of part of it. I think for myself, I talked a little bit about it last year where you see where you can get and you continue to believe it more and more every year and try and get better. For me, I think I took another step this year and looking to do the same again next year. Olympics is obviously a dream since a kid. You watch it, you have memories of whether it's Sidney Crosby's golden goal or what not. It's definitely a goal of mine. I need to really prepare this summer to have a really good chance at it."
Do you agree with this list and were Thomas is at on it? Comment below and let us know what you feel.
Our Top 20 Centers Right Now list has a total of:
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 20, 2025
• 12 Stanley Cups
• 5 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 10 Ted Lindsay Awards
• 8 Hart Trophies
• 8 Art Ross Trophies
• 7 Maurice Richard Trophies
• 3 Selke Trophies
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