Criterion theory: Why Robert Thomas will be able to turn things around next season

Coming off an impressive 42 points in 66 games in his sophomore season in the NHL, Robert Thomas looked poised to take on a top-six center role for the St. Louis Blues in 2021, but his play never really took off. He was relegated to the bottom-six early in the season and a thumb injury then removed his hope of climbing back to a top spot as the season ramped up.

As it is always the case when results don't match potential, the past few months complicated the negotiations between Thomas and the Blues. Training camp opens in just a few weeks and he is still without a contract. 

Despite this hold-out and how the last season unfolded for Thomas, Blues fans should remain optimistic about the young forward's future. Thomas already showed he could change how he thinks about the game to significantly increase his production in his time in the OHL. Next season, I think we will see him do it in the NHL soon, too.