The St. Louis Blues have been dealt another significant blow early in the 2024-25 NHL season, as forward Robert Thomas is expected to miss at least six weeks with a broken right ankle. The 24-year-old center sustained the injury after blocking a shot in the third period of Tuesday night’s loss to the still-undefeated Winnipeg Jets.
According to Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, Thomas was placed on injured reserve and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. The loss of Thomas is a major setback for a St. Louis team already struggling with injuries to key players, particularly on the blue line.
Blues’ Defensive Depth Tested
Earlier this week, the Blues announced that defenseman Nick Leddy was also placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. The veteran blueliner’s absence, coupled with the season-ending ankle surgery for Torey Krug, leaves the team’s defensive corps severely depleted.
Despite the early-season adversity, the Blues have managed to post a respectable 4-3-0 record. However, the loss of Thomas, who has emerged as one of the team’s top two-way forwards, will undoubtedly make it more challenging for St. Louis to maintain their competitive pace in the tough Central Division.
Silver Lining: Neighbours’ Extension
Amidst the injury woes, the Blues did receive some positive news this week, as they signed promising young defenseman Jake Neighbours to a two-year contract extension. The deal, worth $7.5 million, will keep the 21-year-old under contract through the 2026-27 season at an annual average value of $3.75 million.
“Jake has shown tremendous growth and potential in his short time with the organization,” Armstrong said in a statement. “We believe he has a bright future ahead of him and are excited to have him as part of our core moving forward.”
While the Neighbours extension provides a glimpse of hope for the future, the Blues must now focus on navigating the present without Thomas and other key contributors. The team will likely lean heavily on their depth players and call-ups from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds to fill the void.
Road Ahead for St. Louis
As the Blues embark on a challenging stretch of their schedule, they’ll need to find ways to generate offense and maintain defensive stability without Thomas and Leddy. The team’s upcoming games include matchups against division rivals like the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, as well as tough non-conference opponents such as the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Head coach Craig Berube will have his work cut out for him as he attempts to navigate the injury-riddled roster and keep the Blues competitive in the race for a playoff spot. The team’s depth, resilience, and coaching acumen will be put to the test in the coming weeks.
For now, Blues fans will need to remain patient and hope that their team can weather the storm until key players like Thomas and Leddy are able to return to action. In the meantime, the organization must focus on developing their young talent and finding ways to win with the healthy players they have available.
As the old adage goes, adversity breeds opportunity. The Blues’ ability to overcome their early-season injury woes may ultimately define their success in the 2024-25 campaign and beyond.
