NHL Trade Rumors: Blues & Canadiens Trade 'Absolutely Makes Sense'

Thursday, December 18, 2025 ,


The St. Louis Blues are open for business. They are a seller. And the Montreal Canadiens—they are looking to buy. Specifically, an impact second-line center. And on The Starr & D'Amico Show, the duo suggest that a certain Blues center would be the absolute perfect target for the Habs:

"Robert Thomas is the best answer to the 2C problem for the Montréal Canadiens. There's no doubt about it," said Shaun Starr. 

Thomas, 26, is coming off two consecutive 80-point seasons. The playmaking, two-way center is only in Year 3 of an 8-year, $65 million contract with an $8.125M AAV. 

"Connect the two teams," said D'Amico, "it absolutely makes sense based on what I've heard, and what others have reported, that the St. Louis Blues and Montréal Canadiens would make for ideal trade partners—IF there is ever an appetite to make a big move."

However, not everything would be on the table for Montreal.

The pair suggest eight names on the Habs roster that would NOT be available in a trade like that (or any other deal this season):

  • Nick Suzuki
  • Cole Caufield
  • Ivan Demidov
  • Lane Hutson
  • Noah Dobson
  • Juraj Slafkovsky
  • Mike Matheson
  • Jacob Fowler


If the two teams could work around those restrictions, maybe there's something to be done. 

From the Blues' side, yes, we do know that GM Doug Armstrong is getting an itchy trigger finger, but the names most commonly heard that are up for grabs include Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, maybe Jordan Kyrou, Jordan Binnington, and a trio of pending UFAs, Mathieu Joseph, Alexei Toropchenko and Oskar Sundqvist. Robert Thomas's name is notably absent, and it's understandable that the Blues aren't very interested in moving him. 

Schenn and Kyrou do potentially also fit the 2C criteria the Habs are searching for, however. 

Photo: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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