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Trade completed: Blackhawks miss out big time on Blues and Kings swap Tuesday

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Sam Walker
December 2, 2025 (10:30)

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It's a little surprising to see Tuesday's trade unfold and for Akil Thomas to end up in St. Louis instead of joining a rebuilding team like the Chicago Blackhawks-because Thomas looks like exactly the kind of young, skilled forward Chicago needed right now.

The trade saw the St. Louis Blues acquire Thomas from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Nikita Alexandrov. Thomas, 25, heads to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Thomas has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 19 games this season with the Kings' AHL club, the Ontario Reign. Across 176 AHL games in his career, he's posted 106 points (50 goals, 56 assists).

In the NHL, he's appeared in 32 games for the Kings and has shown great promise despite only collecting seven points (four goals, three assists).

Chicago really should have made a push for him, especially with the low cost. He's a former second-round pick (51st overall, 2018), and at 25 he's hitting a build phase-old enough to handle pro hockey but young enough to grow with a rebuilding core.

Thomas would've fit perfect in Chicago's rebuild

For a Blackhawks team trying to build around youth and upside, Thomas offered a blend of scoring skill and upside that few players at his price and age carry. He showed flashes with the Kings late last season, and his production at the AHL level suggests he'll be NHL-ready sooner than later.

Thomas' right-shot center ability could have added depth down the middle for Chicago while giving them a potential middle-six scorer.

Instead, those future options now belong to St. Louis. Chicago lost the chance to get a relatively low-cost, high-upside forward who might have made a real impact early.

For a rebuild with limited assets, that feels like a missed opportunity.

In the end, Thomas lands in the Blues system, and Chicago moves on-but fans will surely wonder if that second-round pick could've been part of their next wave rather than someone else's.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Blackhawks set to trade goaltender following conditioning stint with AHL's IceHogs

Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly working on trade with Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks prospect's recent play with IceHogs puts him on the fast track for NHL call-up

POLL
DECEMBRE 2 \| 124 ANSWERS Trade completed: Blackhawks miss out big time on Blues and Kings swap Tuesday Do you think the Blackhawks should have traded for Akil Thomas instead of letting him go to St. Louis?
Yes	39	31.5 %
No	63	50.8 %
Maybe Later	8	6.5 %
Not Needed	14	11.3 %
List of polls

Trade completed: Blackhawks miss out big time on Blues and Kings swap Tuesday

It's a little surprising to see Tuesday's trade unfold and for Akil Thomas to end up in St. Louis instead of joining a rebuilding team like the Chicago Blackhawks-because Thomas looks like exactly the kind of young, skilled forward Chicago needed right now.

Thomas would've fit perfect in Chicago's rebuild

Do you think the Blackhawks should have traded for Akil Thomas instead of letting him go to St. Louis?