The NHL Network’s Top 20 Centers list has St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas at No. 12, trailing Jack Hughes (No. 11, New Jersey Devils) and Nick Suzuki (No. 10, Montreal Canadiens).
With the 2025-26 season on the horizon, is Thomas still an underrated Center and deserve a top-10 nod?
The Stats Breakdown
Here’s how Thomas stacks up against Hughes and Suzuki based on their 2024-25 performances:
- Robert Thomas (No. 12, Blues)
- Points: 81 (26 G, 60 A) in 70 GP (1.16 PPG), +20
- Shooting: 145 SOG, 14.5% S%, 308 TSA
- Ice Time: 19:57 ATOI
- Faceoffs: 54.8% FO%
- Advanced: 51.6% CF%, +3.7 CF% rel, 102.9 PDO, 52.6% oZS%
- Standout notes: Thomas has elite playmaking (60 A) and a +20 on a thin Blues roster.
- Jack Hughes (No. 11, Devils)
- Points: 70 (27 G, 43 A) in 62 GP (1.13 PPG), +12 +/-
- Shooting: 229 SOG, 11.8% S%, 465 TSA
- Ice Time: 20:54 ATOI
- Faceoffs: 37.6% FO%
- Advanced: 56.9% CF%, +8.5 CF% rel, 100.2 PDO, 71.6% oZS%
- Standout: Dynamic possession (56.9% CF%) and 7 GWG, though sheltered with 71.6% offensive zone starts.
- Nick Suzuki (No. 10, Canadiens)
- Points: 89 (30 G, 59 A) in 82 GP (1.09 PPG), +19 +/-
- Shooting: 172 SOG, 17.4% S%, 347 TSA
- Ice Time: 20:04 ATOI
- Faceoffs: 51.6% FO%
- Advanced: 51.9% CF%, +6.8 CF% rel, 102.0 PDO, 54.5% oZS%
- Standout: Career-high 89 PTS and 9 GWG as Montreal’s captain.
Head to Head: Who Excels Where?
Offensive Output: Suzuki’s 89 points edge out Thomas’s 81 and Hughes’s 70, though Thomas’s 1.16 PPG (70 GP) outpaces Suzuki’s 1.09 (82 GP) and Hughes’s 1.13 (62 GP). Thomas’s 60 assists rival the league’s best, while Suzuki’s 17.4% shooting percentage tops Thomas (14.5%) and Hughes (11.8%).
Two-Way Impact: Thomas leads the plus-minus race with a +20 rating, surpassing Suzuki’s +19 and Hughes’s +12. He won 54.8% of his 1,338 faceoffs, while Suzuki won 51.6% of his 1,318 faceoffs. Suzuki also added a little more defense to his game with 70 blocks and 63 hits, while Hughes struggles with 37.6% win rate, 87 giveaways, 29 blocks, and seven hits. Despite giving up 99 more giveaways than Suzuki, Thomas’s overall effort makes him a strong all-around player, potentially surpassing Hughes for No. 11 and challenging Suzuki for No. 10.
Advanced Metrics: Hughes leads with 56.9% CF% and +8.5 CF% rel, boosted by 71.6% offensive zone starts. Thomas (51.6% CF%, +3.7) and Suzuki (51.9% CF%, +6.8) show solid possession with balanced deployments (52.6% and 54.5% oZS%), showing greater all-situations value.
Utah's PA announcer was still reading their goal and Jordan Kyrou's like "hang on I'm gonna interrupt ya" pic.twitter.com/RBasOsPTda
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 3, 2025
Is No. 12 Fair for Thomas?
Thomas’s 81 points, +20 rating, and 54.8% faceoff win rate make a compelling case for No. 11 or even 10. He outpaces Hughes in durability, plus/minus, and faceoffs, while his possession stats (51.6% CF%) hold up despite less favorable zone starts. Against Suzuki, Thomas’s 1.16 PPG and +20 challenge Suzuki’s 89 points, and Suzuki’s 17.4% shooting percentage give him a compelling case as well.
Verdict: With an unbiased analysis, Thomas’s No. 12 ranking is slightly undervalued. He deserves No. 11 over Hughes after the 2024-25 season given his all-situations reliability and team impact. A top-10 push to No. 10 over Suzuki is close, and his stats suggest he’s in the conversation. However, Suzuki’s higher point total and leadership might keep him ahead for now. With another strong season, Thomas could crack the top 10 in 2026.