ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues are set to welcome back center Robert Thomas for their game on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild, following a 12-game absence due to a fractured right ankle.

Thomas expressed his relief about returning to play, stating, “It’s obviously frustrating being out. I invested a lot in myself, and I’m pretty happy with the result and getting back so soon. I’m excited to be back in the lineup and look forward to getting in the trenches with the guys.”

The injury occurred when Thomas blocked a shot during a match against the Winnipeg Jets on October 22. Initially, the Blues expected him to be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks. During his recovery, Thomas joined the team on a recent three-game road trip after participating in team practices starting on November 13.

“I started to feel better the last couple of days skating,” he noted. “It got to a point where I was comfortable that I was ready to go. Pretty much the last week or so, I wasn’t planning on the road trip, but I wanted to be around the guys and take it day by day.”

Blues head coach Drew Bannister commended Thomas’s determination to return, mentioning, “It doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat. He’s in great shape. He went away for a week, 10 days, two weeks to do some work in Toronto with his doctors there, and I think that really sped up the process.”

Before his injury, Thomas contributed significantly with six points (one goal, five assists) in just seven games. In his absence, the Blues have struggled, recording a 4-7-1 record over the 12 games without the 2024 NHL All-Star.

Reflecting on his return, Thomas emphasized that his goal is to be the player he knows he can be. “You can’t get too complicated, too fancy early. You’ve got to get back into the rhythm of the game. It’s tough being out for so long. Today was my first real practice with the guys, so it’s going to take a little bit. Keeping it simple early will be important,” he concluded.