It feels like every time the St. Louis Blues start to find some rhythm, the injury bug decides to take a massive bite out of the roster. Honestly, watching this season has been a bit of a rollercoaster for fans at Enterprise Center. One night you’re celebrating a gritty shutout win, and the next, you’re refreshing Twitter to see which star player just got added to the IR. It’s tough.
Right now, the big cloud hanging over the team is the status of Robert Thomas. He isn't just a player; he’s the engine. Losing him is like trying to run a high-performance sports car on three wheels. The latest update isn't exactly what anyone wanted to hear, but it gives us a clear picture of the mountain the Blues have to climb in the coming weeks.
The Robert Thomas Situation and Why It Hurts
Basically, the Blues announced on January 15, 2026, that Thomas has been placed on Injured Reserve (IR). This stems from a lower-body injury that he actually aggravated back on New Year's Eve against Colorado. He tried to push through it—because that’s what hockey players do—but after the loss to Vegas on January 10, it became clear he couldn't go.
St. Louis Blues injuries always seem to hit the guys you can least afford to lose. Thomas is currently leading the team in scoring with 33 points. He's tied for the lead in goals (11) and is the undisputed king of assists (22). General Manager Doug Armstrong noted that Thomas will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That puts his potential return somewhere around the end of January, assuming everything goes perfectly with his rehab.
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You’ve got to feel for the guy. He’s been the most consistent offensive threat on a team that has struggled with consistency. Without him, the top line loses its playmaker, and the power play suddenly looks a lot less dangerous. Coach Jim Montgomery is basically asking the rest of the locker room to find some "resolve from within," but let’s be real: replacing a point-per-game center isn’t something you just do overnight.
The M.A.S.H. Unit: Who Else is Sidelined?
It’s not just Thomas. If it were, maybe the Blues could weather the storm. But the training room is getting crowded.
- Philip Broberg: There was a massive scare when he took a hit from Mark Stone against Vegas. He entered concussion protocol and missed a game, but the good news is he was cleared to return for the Tampa Bay game on January 16. That’s a huge relief, especially since he just signed a six-year extension.
- Mathieu Joseph: He’s on IR with an elbow infection. It’s one of those weird, nagging issues that keeps a guy out just long enough to be annoying. He’s expected to be re-evaluated very soon, likely within the next few days.
- Pius Suter & Dylan Holloway: Both are dealing with ankle injuries. Suter is looking at a late January return, while Holloway’s high ankle sprain is more severe. We might not see Holloway back in the lineup until February.
- Torey Krug: We have to talk about the long-term reality here. Krug is out for the season following that massive ankle surgery to address pre-arthritic changes. Honestly, there are a lot of whispers that his NHL career might be over. It’s a heavy situation for a guy who has given so much to the game.
What This Means for the Playoff Hunt
The Blues are sitting in a precarious spot. As of mid-January, they are 13th in the Western Conference with an 18-21-8 record. They are roughly five points out of a wild-card spot.
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In the NHL, five points can disappear in a week, or it can feel like a canyon if you can't string wins together. With Robert Thomas out, the pressure shifts heavily to guys like Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich. They have to produce. If they don't, the gap between the Blues and the playoffs is only going to grow.
It’s also an opportunity for the young guys. We're seeing more of Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud. Dvorsky has been impressive, and with the injuries piling up, he’s getting the kind of "trial by fire" minutes that could accelerate his development. Is it ideal? No. But it's the reality of the 2025-26 season.
Next Steps for Blues Fans
If you're following the team closely, keep an eye on the January 29 window. That’s when we should get the next definitive update on Thomas. In the meantime, watch how Montgomery juggles the lines. The defensive pairings have been surprisingly stable thanks to Colton Parayko and the arrival of Cam Fowler, but the forward depth is being tested like never before.
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Check the waiver wire or minor league call-ups from Springfield. If the Blues don't see progress from their internal depth, Armstrong might be forced to make a move sooner than the trade deadline. For now, it's all about surviving the next 14 days without their best player.
Keep your notifications on for the morning skates. That’s usually where we see the first signs of a player returning to the ice. If Thomas starts skating solo in the next week, that’s a very good sign he’s on track for that two-week re-evaluation target.