Blues centre Robert Thomas responded on ESPN Radio in St. Louis on Friday to criticism by Craig Berube, calling the head coach's comments "frustrating to hear."
After Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, Berube told reporters, "A lot of our best players are not doing the job." When pressed to answer why, he responded, "I guess they don't care about the team. I don't know. I'm not sure why."
"Obviously, it's frustrating to hear that," Thomas told Carey & Randy on Friday. "I've been a part of this team for a long time, and what he said couldn't be further from the truth. I know everyone in that room cares, and it's frustrating to hear."
When general manager Doug Armstrong signed Thomas and Jordan Kyrou to identical eight-year, $65-million contract extensions in the summer that kick in before next season, he said Thomas could be a future captain of the Blues. Now, with captain Ryan O'Reilly traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the torch is seemingly being passed.
With that in mind, Thomas, 23, was asked how he shows leadership in this current situation. The Blues, who won the Stanley Cup in 2019, are 26-28-4 this season, good for 11th in the Western Conference and unlikely to make the playoffs.
"I think the way I found that leading is the best through example, and accountability," he said. "And I know I've got big shoes to fill, and I know that that's part of the job. I take accountability for the way the season's gone and the way it's gone lately. I need to step up and be better on the ice and off the ice."
Thomas, an Aurora, Ont., native, has 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 55 games this season. Last season, in 72 games, he had 20 goals and 57 assists for 77 points, all career highs.
When asked Friday afternoon about Berube's comments, general manager Doug Armstrong attributed them to "raw emotion" after the game.
The Blues host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, a game that can be seen on Sportsnet 360 and SN NOW starting at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT.
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