Robert Thomas: Speaking of eight-year contracts, Thomas also signed an eight-year, $65 million contract ($8.125 million AAV) on July 13, so it's clear who is tasked with being the Blues' new young leaders. Thomas has 63 points (17 goals, 46 assists) in 70 games, third on the team behind Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich, who has 66 points (25 goals, 41 assists) in 59 games. Thomas' numbers are down slightly from last season, when he had 77 points (20 goals, 57 assists) in 72 games, but the 23-year-old should keep building on what he's accomplished the past two seasons.
Zachary Bolduc: Is it Bolduc time for the Blues? That remains to be seen. But if so, St. Louis will get a dynamic forward who had 110 points (50 goals, 60 assists) in 61 games for the Quebec Remparts, who are playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs. The 20-year-old had 99 points (55 goals, 44 assists) in 65 games for Quebec in 2021-22 and was the Blues' first-round pick (No. 17) in the 2021 NHL Draft.