New Blues’ Captain Robert Thomas Has a Chance at a 90-Point Season – The Hockey Writers –

Robert Thomas, the newly named captain of the St. Louis Blues, enters the 2026-27 season at 27 years old and firmly established as one of the most important players on the St. Louis Blues. After eight NHL seasons, Thomas has developed into a dependable top-line center, an excellent playmaker, and one of the team’s primary sources of offense. While his production dipped to 64 points last season, the underlying story is more encouraging than the raw total suggests. Thomas scored 25 goals in only 64 games, maintaining an excellent 1.00 point-per-game pace, and enters this season with two talented young wingers in Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud expected to flank him.

With that combination, 84 points is a reasonable projection for Thomas in 2026-27, with a projected stat line of approximately 24 goals and 60 assists in 80 games.

Thomas’s Career So Far

Thomas’ career numbers show why an 80-plus-point projection is hardly a stretch. Through eight NHL seasons, he has recorded 460 points in 530 games, an average of 71 points per 82 games. That career average is somewhat misleading because his early seasons came before he had established himself as a first-line player, while the two COVID-19-shortened seasons significantly affected his totals. Once Thomas reached his prime role, his offensive production took a significant step forward.

The clearest example came in 2023-24. Thomas played all 82 games and produced 26 goals and 60 assists for 86 points, being named an All-Star for the first (and to date, only) time in his career. He followed that up with 21 goals and another 60 assists in just 70 games in 2024-25, giving him 167 points across those two seasons. His 2025-26 season looked different on the surface, but there is an important distinction. Thomas scored 25 goals in only 64 games, meaning he was scoring at a substantially higher goal rate than in either of the previous two seasons. His 39 assists, however, represented a major decline from the 60 assists he recorded in each of the previous two campaigns.

That makes the biggest question entering 2026-27 relatively simple: can Thomas get his assist production back while maintaining some of the increased goal-scoring ability he showed last season? If he can, 90 points becomes a legitimate possibility.

Thomas’s Linemates Raise His Ceiling

Holloway and Snuggerud could make a major difference. Holloway’s speed and ability to attack the net should give Thomas another dynamic option off the rush. Thomas is at his best when he can manipulate defenders and create passing lanes, and Holloway’s ability to generate separation can force defenders to make difficult choices. If Holloway is consistently getting behind defenders or driving toward the crease, Thomas should have more opportunities to find him with passes.

Snuggerud may be even more intriguing from Thomas’ perspective. The young winger brings legitimate shooting ability, giving Thomas another player who can potentially convert the chances he creates. A playmaking center’s assist total is naturally tied to the finishing ability of his linemates. If Snuggerud establishes himself as a consistent NHL scoring threat, Thomas could benefit considerably.

The three-player combination also has the potential to make Thomas more dangerous himself. Defenses cannot simply collapse on Thomas and take away his passing lanes if Holloway’s speed and Snuggerud’s shooting ability require constant attention. That additional space could allow Thomas to attack the net more frequently, potentially keeping his goal total in the 20s while his assist numbers climb.

We have already seen what this line can do in a small sample size. Last season, they were one of the best lines in hockey.

Special Teams

Special teams could be another key to his ceiling. Thomas has had some strong performances on special teams. If the Blues can improve their power play, Thomas should be one of the primary beneficiaries. His vision makes him an ideal player to quarterback or facilitate a man-advantage unit, and more power-play success could quickly add several points to his total.

Formula For 90

The simplest formula is something like 25 goals and 65 assists over 80 games. Thomas has already reached 26 goals and 60 assists in a season, so neither component represents an unprecedented level of production. The challenge is putting them together in the same year.

A healthy season would be the first requirement. Thomas has played 82 games once in his career, but his recent totals have been limited by missed time. His 1.05 points-per-game rate last season would have translated to approximately 86 points over 82 games. If he maintains that rate while playing a full schedule, he is already knocking on the door of 90.

The second requirement is getting his assists back into the 50s or 60s. If Thomas scores 24-25 goals and returns to approximately 60 assists, he is already sitting around 84-85 points. A modest improvement in power-play production, combined with stronger finishing from Holloway and Snuggerud, could provide the additional five or six points necessary to cross 90.

That is why 84 points is the projection, but 90 points is the ceiling worth watching.