ºüÀêÊÓƵ

When the Blues practiced on Wednesday morning, hope arrived wearing a light blue non-contact jersey.

Robert Thomas was on the ice.

Thomas, three weeks into a six-week timeline until reevaluation for a fractured ankle, skated for the first time with the Blues, who carry a three-game losing streak into a three-game road trip through Buffalo, Boston and Carolina. Blues coach Drew Bannister said Thomas would travel with the team.

“He wants to be with the team,� Bannister said. “He wants to get out on the ice, and I think the guys were excited to see him, maybe a little bit surprised, too, that he was out on the ice with us. I thought he looked good, and obviously, there’s no timeline with his injury, but it’s good to see him out on the ice with us.�

Bannister said Thomas skated on his own previously before joining the Blues on Wednesday morning. He has not played since Oct. 22 against Winnipeg, when he blocked a Neal Pionk shot that fractured the ankle. ºüÀêÊÓƵ has gone 3-6-0 in the nine games without Thomas available.

If Thomas misses the entire six-week period initially forecast last month, that could mean a return for the Dec. 5 game in Calgary.

“He feels real good about where he is right now,� Bannister said. “Maybe better than expected. Again, there’s no timetable for him, but I think it’s a good sign to see him on the ice and wanting to be around the team and being able to practice with us.�

Thomas led the Blues in scoring last season, posting a career-high 86 points and earning a trip to the All-Star Game. This season, Thomas had one goal and five assists in seven games before his injury.

It goes without saying that the Blues could really use Thomas on the ice, whenever that does end up happening.

The ºüÀêÊÓƵ power play got clicking during Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Boston, scoring twice, but it had not scored a power-play goal at home until then. Thomas led the Blues in power-play points last season and had a point on about 80% of the goals scored when he was on the ice.

Since Thomas’ injury, the Blues are 30th in the league with a 43.8% faceoff percentage. Thomas was winning 62.6% of his draws and averaging more than 22 faceoffs taken per game.

At five on five, the Blues have generated far less offense in the past nine games when Thomas has been out of the lineup. According to Natural Stat Trick, during that time and per 60 minutes at five on five, the Blues rank last in shot attempts, shots on goal and expected goals, and second-to-last in scoring chances and high-danger chances.

In the first seven games of the season, the Blues were 17th in shot attempts, 19th in shots on goal, 20th in expected goals, 12th in scoring chances and 16th in high-danger chances.

Put plainly, how much of the Blues’ recent lack of offense is related to the team missing their No. 1 center?

“Obviously, we can sit here and say Robbie is a big part of the team,� Bannister said. “Of course he is. The forward group there, we’ve had success with them, and I believe in this group. We can’t wait for Thommer to come back, we have to start winning games now with the guys that we have in our lineup. I know the guys believe in that group, and when we play to our potential and the way we need to play, we have success.�

In wins over the Maple Leafs (twice) and the Lightning, the Blues discovered that formula resides in developing a forecheck, making smart plays with the puck and defending well in their own zone. But it hasn’t been consistent for the Blues, who are 7-9-0.

When isolating Thomas’ minutes relative to the rest of the Blues, it’s clear just how important he is to the club’s success. Only one forward (minimum four games) in the NHL affects production of expected goals more than Thomas relative to his team, and that’s Connor McDavid in Edmonton. Only one forward in the NHL affects the generation of shots on goal more than Thomas, and that’s Mikael Granlund in San Jose.

Without Thomas, the Blues have asked different players to step into different roles. Pavel Buchnevich ascended to become the top-line center. Brayden Schenn moved from the wing back to the middle. Radek Faksa began the season centering the fourth line but is now receiving more ice time. Oskar Sundqvist has become an oft-used penalty killer and in FOGO (faceoff, get off) situations when there’s a right-handed draw.

The Blues could also use more production from veteran Brandon Saad (demoted to the fourth line) and offseason acquisition Alexandre Texier (skated as an extra during practice Wednesday) in order to wade through the balance of Thomas’ absence.

“Adding Thommer to that when we’re playing well, we’re a heck of a hockey team,� Bannister said. “We’ve just got to make sure that before he comes, we’ve got to make sure we take care of our own business.�