Robert Thomas signed an eight-year, $65 million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
The contract starts in 2023-24 and keeps the 23-year-old center with the Blues through the 2030-31 season. He could have become a restricted free agent at the end of 2022-23, the last of the two-year, $5.6 million contract ($2.8 million AAV) he signed Sept. 21, 2021.
“St. Louis is where I want to be,” Thomas told the Blues website. “From the moment I got here, it’s been a second home to me, and every year that’s gone by, I’ve loved playing for the Blues more and more. Since I’ve been here, I’ve felt like we’ve had a chance at winning the Stanley Cup every season and I truly believe there will be many more opportunities to win it. That’s why I couldn’t be happier to be part of it for the next nine seasons.”
Thomas had personal NHL-bests last season in goals (20), assists (57) and points (77). He led the Blues in assists with the most by a St. Louis player since Pavol Demitra had 57 in 2002-03. He also had six points (two goals, four assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Blues reach the Western Conference Second Round, a six-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
“It means a lot (signing here),” Thomas said. “The commitment from Mr. (Tom) Stillman and the Blues ownership group, as well as Doug (Armstrong), is important to me. I’m excited for the future of this team and to be part of the championship runs to come.”
Selected by St. Louis with the No. 20 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, Thomas has 164 points (42 goals, 122 assists) in 241 regular-season games, and 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 45 playoff games. He helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2019.
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