SENSNEWS

The Senators Push for the Playoffs, With Robert Thomas

The Ottawa Senators find themselves at a crossroads as the 2025–26 NHL season enters its second half. Currently maintaining a record of 21-19-5, the Sens remain competitive in the playoff race.

However, the congestion of the Atlantic Division is making achieving a playoff birth more difficult by the day.

Recognizing the urgency of the current landscape, General Manager Steve Staios has taken a noted aggressive approach to the trade market.

League insiders report that the Senators’ front office is actively seeking high-impact players with either a top-four defenseman or a dynamic top-six forward to bolster the roster.

Among the most compelling options to emerge in recent league-wide discussions is St. Louis Blues’ star center Robert Thomas.

As the Blues transition toward a potential retool, Thomas represents the calibre of elite, long-term talent that could substantially improve Ottawa’s offensive depth and serve as a major addition to the top six.

Scouting Robert Thomas

This season, Thomas continues to serve as the engine of the St. Louis Blues’ offence. Through 42 games, he has recorded 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points.

While his scoring pace is slightly below his career-high marks from the previous two seasons—largely a reflection of the Blues’ overall offensive struggles—he remains an elite playmaker and one of the best offensive players in the league.

His underlying numbers continue to demonstrate elite vision and the ability to elevate the performance of his linemates.

Robert Thomas’ Advanced Analytics

While Robert Thomas is currently experiencing a dip in offensive production compared to his standards, a broader look at his career trajectory reveals a player who typically operates within the 85th percentile of NHL forwards offensively.

This season, his offensive impact rating sits at 63, a drop from the high-end consistency he displayed during his back-to-back 80-point seasons.

However, the underlying metrics suggest this “down year” is more a reflection of the Blues rather than a decline in Thomas’ play.

His assists rating remains exceptionally high at 93, highlighting his reputation as an elite playmaker who possesses the rare ability to thread passes through tight windows while simultaneously dictating the pace of play.

Thomas is currently maintaining a defensive rating of 85, paired with a defensive impact score of 71, despite playing against the opponent’s top competition.

This suggests that he is successfully transitioning into a complete 200-foot player, the type Travis Green loves, while taking on the opposition’s most dangerous scoring threats.

Robert Thomas Trade Package

Darren Dreger recently reported, “Darren Dreger: Re Blues: Robert Thomas’ name has been out there; but why is it out there again more recently? It’s because [Armstrong’s] got the bait on the end of the line; he’s fishing for a return that includes probably a couple of prospects or a high pick.”

Acquiring a player like Robert Thomas, as noted by Dreger, would likely mean moving key future assets, likely starting with one of Ottawa’s defensive prospects, Logan Hensler or Carter Yakemchuk.

While General Manager Steve Staios has previously expressed a desire to retain these two players, the reality of landing a 26-year-old elite playmaker often requires parting with “untouchable” talent.

Yakemchuk and Hensler would represent the type of high-ceiling building blocks that a rebuilding St. Louis Blues team would demand in exchange for their star center.

The potential deal is difficult considering the Senators’ lack of draft capital. Due to a league-imposed penalty stemming from the Evgenii Dadonov trade, Ottawa has forfeited its 2026 first-round pick.

Without that first as a trade chip, the Senators would likely need to leverage the 2026 second-round pick acquired from Buffalo in the Dylan Cozens trade.

To bridge the value gap left by the missing first-rounder, Staios would almost certainly have to bundle that second-round selection with an additional high-end prospect or a young roster player to make the package palatable for St. Louis.

Thomas’ Versatility In The Lineup

One of the most compelling aspects of acquiring Robert Thomas is his positional versatility, as he is capable of performing at an elite level at both center and right wing.

While he has primarily anchored the St. Louis Blues’ top line as a pivot, elite vision and IQ allow him to transition seamlessly to the wing if the Senators’ lineup would require it.

His playmaking-first mentality would serve as a perfect complement to a player like Fabian Zetterlund, who has established himself as a versatile secondary scorer for Ottawa.

Furthermore, the off-ice chemistry between Thomas and Senators captain Brady Tkachuk could translate on the ice as well. The two are documented close friends; Thomas famously lived at the Tkachuk family home in St. Louis and played junior hockey with Matthew Tkachuk.

While Tkachuk creates havoc in high-danger zones, Thomas ranks among the league’s best in high-danger passing, creating a dynamic where Tkachuk’s finishing ability should be maximized by Thomas’s elite passing.

But for now, we will just have to wait and see what the Senators decide to do. Although Robert Thomas is going to be incredibly difficult to trade for, there is certainly reason for Steve Staios to call.