IT IS DONE: 2025-2027 Extension. Robert Thomas signed a 4 year, $53,000,000 contract with the St Louis Blues, including $49,650,000 signing bonus, $53,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $13,250,000…

2025-2027 Extension. Robert Thomas signed a 4 year, $53,000,000 contract with the St Louis Blues, including $49,650,000 signing bonus, $53,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $13,250,000…

The St. Louis Blues have locked down the center of their future—literally and figuratively.

Robert Thomas, the 25-year-old star center, has signed a blockbuster four-year, $53 million contract extension with the Blues, the team announced Tuesday morning. The deal includes a jaw-dropping $49.65 million signing bonus, guarantees every cent of the $53 million, and carries an average annual value (AAV) of $13.25 million, making it the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

The extension runs through the 2027 season and signals an emphatic commitment from both the Blues’ front office and Thomas himself to remain at the heart of the team’s long-term plans.

> “Robert is one of the best young two-way centers in the game, and this extension reflects how critical he is to our identity,” said General Manager Doug Armstrong. “He’s earned this every step of the way—with his production, his leadership, and his drive to win.”

From Promising Prospect to Franchise Cornerstone

Drafted 20th overall by St. Louis in the 2017 NHL Draft, Thomas has grown into one of the league’s premier playmaking centers. He was a key contributor during the Blues’ historic 2019 Stanley Cup run and has since evolved into the team’s top-line pivot, quarterbacking the power play and logging heavy minutes against elite competition.

In the 2024-25 season, Thomas posted 83 points (24 goals, 59 assists) in 78 games while serving as an alternate captain. He also led all Blues forwards in average ice time (21:17), faceoff win percentage (55.2%), and was second in plus-minus (+18). His vision, hockey IQ, and two-way reliability have made him a trusted figure on the bench and a fan favorite on the ice.

> “St. Louis is home,” Thomas said during a press conference at Enterprise Center. “From the day I was drafted, this organization believed in me. I want to win more Cups here. This is where I want to build something special.”

Inside the Deal: Why the Blues Paid Big

The new contract is structured with a massive upfront signing bonus—$49.65 million of the $53 million is paid as bonus money, likely spread over multiple years to manage cap implications. This kind of structure is often reserved for elite players, signaling the Blues’ view of Thomas not just as a core player, but the centerpiece.

Analysts note that while the AAV of $13.25 million places Thomas among the highest-paid centers in the league, it reflects the market for elite forwards, especially those entering their prime years.

“This is the kind of deal you give to someone you expect to lead your team for the next decade,” said former GM and current TNT analyst Craig Button. “Thomas isn’t just a talented player—he plays the right way. He drives possession, plays responsibly in all three zones, and makes everyone around him better.”

The Locker Room Reaction

Inside the Blues’ locker room, the reaction to the news was instant and enthusiastic.

“He’s our engine,” said captain Brayden Schenn. “Having Rob locked up long term, that’s a message to the whole league that we’re not just rebuilding—we’re building to contend again, and he’s leading the charge.”

Young players like Jake Neighbours and Zachary Bolduc have leaned on Thomas for leadership and mentorship, and the Blues’ front office clearly views him as the next captain-in-waiting.

> “He’s the kind of guy you build a team around,” Schenn added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s wearing the ‘C’ sooner than later.”

Blues’ Future Now Runs Through #18

The extension places Thomas at the heart of St. Louis’s retooled core, alongside emerging young talent and key veterans. With goaltender Joel Hofer developing into a reliable starter and a wave of promising prospects nearing NHL readiness, the Blues are clearly pivoting toward a youth-driven future—but one led by a battle-tested star.

Armstrong has been deliberate in how he restructured the roster over the past two years, shedding older contracts and focusing on high-character, high-upside players. Extending Thomas—who had two years remaining on his previous deal before the extension kicks in—was the natural next step.

> “We’re building a team that can win now and win later,” Armstrong said. “Robert Thomas is at the center of both.”

Final Thoughts: A Franchise Face for the Next Era

In a league where elite centers are at a premium and loyalty is rare, Robert Thomas and the Blues have chosen each other again—and in a very big way. The numbers are eye-popping, but the message is clear: St. Louis believes Robert Thomas isn’t just the future of the franchise—he is the franchise.

Fans, teammates, and the front office are all betting big on the player who once hoisted the Cup at 19—and now returns at 25 as the mature, confident leader of the next chapter in Blues hockey.

The Great One once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” The Blues just took their biggest shot yet—by locking up Robert Thomas for the heart of his prime.

And from the looks of it, they’re not going to miss.