St. Louis Wants Nikishin, but Robert Thomas Stays Put

The Blues are still hunting for the Nikishin trade, but they're drawing a clear line in the sand about who's untouchable. Robert Thomas is off the table, which tells you everything about how the organization views its core pieces heading into next season. St. Louis is trying to add without gutting what's already working, a delicate balance that separates smart GMs from desperate ones. The question is whether the market will cooperate with what the Blues are willing to give up.