Thomas signs 8-year contract extension with Blues

Robert Thomas isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong made sure of it by locking up the 23-year-old to a long-term deal with an eight-year, $65 million contract extension ($8.125 AAV) on Wednesday.

Thomas had one year remaining on his current contract, meaning the deal won't kick in until the 2023-24 season and will keep him in St. Louis through 2030-31.
"St. Louis is where I want to be," Thomas told stlouisblues.com. "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 is coming off a season that saw him record career highs in goals (20), assists (57), points (77) and games played (72). Last season, he led the Blues in assists and ranked second overall on the club in points.
"Obviously we look at him as the centerpiece of our organization moving forward," said Armstrong. "When you look at how Craig [Berube] used him from a year ago to last year, he touches every part of our game. He's a 5-on-5 player, both ends of special teams, I think his ice time was second-most ice time of our forward group and that's at 22 [years old], so that's only going to elevate."

In March and April, Thomas put together the longest consecutive point streak in the League at 17 games (eight goals, 21 assists), matching a mark set earlier in the season by Edmonton's Connor McDavid. The streak was the longest by any Blue under the age of 22 and the longest overall since Brett Hull set the franchise record during the 1991-92 season at 25 games.
"It's a lot of pressure to put on Robert, a lot of expectations," Armstrong said. "I think he appreciates that and he's ready for that challenge."
Thomas was originally drafted by the Blues in the first round (No. 20 overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. He won a Memorial Cup with the London Knights in 2016, a gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championships and a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.
In 241 NHL games - all with the Blues - Thomas has recorded 164 points (42 goals, 122 assists).
"It means a lot (signing here)," Thomas added. "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."