NHL Rumors: Sabres Backing Out of Trade Talks for Robert Thomas
Sabres Blues Robert Thomas trade talks fall apart
According to TSN insider Darren Dreger, the Sabres and Blues pushed negotiations as far as they could before hitting a wall.
Dreger wrote Wednesday morning, “It’s believed St Louis/Buffalo went the distance on Thomas trade talks. Sounds like the Sabres aren’t willing to part with the necessary pieces. (Prospects, Player, 1st). Still teams nibbling, but the Blues are firm in what the return needs to be for the young centre.”
Update: It’s believed St Louis/Buffalo went the distance on Thomas trade talks. Sounds like the Sabres aren’t willing to part with the necessary pieces. (Prospects, Player, 1st). Still teams nibbling, but the Blues are firm in what the return needs to be for the young center.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 4, 2026
That price tag has always been the sticking point.
Thomas, 26, is signed through the 2030-31 season at a cap hit of $8.125 million and carries full trade protection. Even in what some consider a quieter year, the Blues centre has 12 goals and 35 points in 43 games this season, and he posted 81 points last year with 21 goals and 60 assists.
St. Louis views him as a franchise cornerstone, which is why the return being discussed reportedly included multiple premium assets.
Blues remain firm on massive Robert Thomas asking price
TSN insider Chris Johnston previously revealed just how steep the negotiations became, saying the Blues were demanding a haul.
“The Blues have been looking for three to four ‘premium assets’ in this deal, which is one of the reasons all these teams out there with that interest haven’t got to the point where Buffalo is,” Johnston said on Insider Trading.
He added that Buffalo’s proposal had climbed into the territory of “a package of picks, players and prospects that gets to about four players.”
Everyone across the league is backing down from the high price set by Doug Armstrong.
— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) March 4, 2026
St.Louis hoping someone flinches, but also has the luxury of revisiting in the summer.
If the price does drop though, it could be telling. https://t.co/cXWXHjk7q8
Buffalo clearly explored the idea seriously as the team tries to end a 14-year playoff drought while sitting near the top of the Atlantic Division.
However, the Sabres ultimately decided the cost was simply too high. Meanwhile, St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong appears comfortable holding the line, especially with Thomas locked into a long-term contract and coming off a Stanley Cup championship run with the Blues in 2019.
The market for Thomas may not be finished, though. Dreger noted there are still teams “nibbling,” while St. Louis has also discussed potential deals involving defensemen Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko with Buffalo during the same conversations.
For now, however, the blockbuster scenario Sabres fans briefly dreamed about is off the table.
Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
