Robert Thomas (Credit: Getty Images) The NHL offseason has already become hot with all the news regarding St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas and the rumors. Thomas, 26 years old, has already proved to be one of the best playmakers in the league with an average annual value of 8.125 million contract till the years 2030-31. His complete no-trade provision provides him with power, yet trade talk of the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth has fans and analysts in a buzz.Thomas has just responded directly to the speculation and asserted that he had never requested a trade and had never been contacted by the Blues management. Although he was upset that the performance of the team had not been that good this season, he said that he likes to live in St. Louis and that he is dedicated to the franchise. Reportedly, even though he has taken this position, the NHL insiders have indicated that both the Utah Mammoth and the Buffalo Sabres are considering Thomas as the most suitable addition to their roster during the offseason.
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The arguments about Thomas bring out the differences in the approach of the interested teams. The Sabres have a prospect-filled and draft pick-laden roster that is interested in building a deeper center with Tage Thompson and competing in the Atlantic Division. At the same time, Utah Mammoth, the newly transferred team, need a star to base their franchise on.In the case of the St. Louis Blues management, it will not come up with a quick deal. There have been reports by insiders that the asking price of Thomas is very high due to his age, stability of the contract and proven performance. Summer trade negotiations will be ongoing, and the Buffalo Sabres, as well as the Utah Mammoth, have been ready to offer competitive bids.As NHL fans follow the news, the future of Thomas is one of the burning issues in NHL trade rumors. No matter whether he remains with the St. Louis Blues or shifts to the new franchise, his choice will bear a lot of consequences for all the teams.