ST. LOUIS — First, it was Jimmy Snuggerud being named the NHL’s third star of the week and then the rookie of the month for March. Now, it’s Robert Thomas following up with another third-star-of-the-week honor.

The St. Louis Blues are earning some respect for sticking around in the Western Conference wild-card race, however long it lasts.

That means that, for now at least, the conversation around the Blues remains this season, not the eventual offseason.

Has the play of Thomas, who had a hat trick in the Blues’ 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, changed the temperature of potential trade talks? Would a top-five draft pick or playoff experience be more beneficial for the club?

We put out a call for subscriber questions late last week, and with the Blues hosting the Avs in a pivotal rematch on Tuesday, we’ll stick to the ones about the current team as much as possible in part 1 of our latest Blues mailbag.

We’ll have more looking at the future in part 2.

(Note: Some questions are edited for length and clarity.)

Do you think the recent stretch will have any impact on Thomas’ desire to stay or the Blues’ desire to trade him? — Matt H.

I can’t speak for the Blues, and I haven’t talked to Thomas, but that’s why we call it a mailbag — I get to express my own opinion. I don’t think the Blues should trade Thomas. I feel like most fans want the team to hang onto him, too, so it’s not like I’m taking a minority view here. For proponents of a trade, I understand that this is the second straight season we’ve seen Thomas turn it on down the stretch and that the view is that if he can’t be consistent from the start of the season, you should see what you can get for him.

But this season is different, to me, because of the injury. Ever since he’s come back from the leg procedure, he looks like the Thomas of old. He’s near a point-per-game pace with 56 points in 58 games. He has 21 goals, which is a 30-goal 82-game pace, which would be a career high. Beyond that, if you move Thomas, who is putting elite passes onto the sticks of Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud? How are they improving until the next Thomas gets here — if he gets here?

I know when Thomas was involved in trade talks, he wanted to remain in St. Louis. Could that change this summer if the Blues re-engage teams about a trade? Certainly. But he believes the Blues are closer to competing than many others think. He sees the talent coming into the locker room month after month. He wants to be part of that and, in fact, be a leader for that group. I can’t speak for the Blues, but you have to think he’s opened their eyes with his play the past two months.

The top line of Thomas, Snuggerud and Holloway were all dealing with some sort of injury in the first half of the season. Do you think the surge after the Olympics has more to do with a mental or physical reset? — Matt M.

As I mentioned with Thomas, the injuries are part of it. Holloway was coming back from the torn oblique and then had a high-ankle sprain. Snuggerud suffered a wrist injury that required surgery. If they don’t get healthy, plain and simple, the Blues aren’t still in the hunt with six games to play.

But there are a few more factors in the surge: 1) Joel Hofer has been incredible. 2) With the departure of veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk, there’s a newfound element within the young core that’s half about the bond they’re developing with each other and half about the pressure they’re putting on each other to perform well, and they’ve been better than expected.

What will it take for Snuggerud to be in Calder consideration? — Peter S.

I’ve liked Snuggerud a lot, but he might not finish in the top five. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer will be the hands-down winner, and the Montreal Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov, Anaheim Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke, Canadiens’ Jakub Dobes, Minnesota Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt and Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin are the betting odds behind him.

Snuggerud would’ve needed nearly a full season of playing like he is now and that likely still wouldn’t have been enough to displace Schaefer.

What would have a more positive long-term impact on the organization: a top-5 pick in this year’s draft or playoff experience for the young core? — Chris R.

As much as I believe in the benefits of playoff experience, the bigger impact this season would be a higher pick. I realize that Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg may not be generational players, but the Blues don’t want to be back this close to the bottom five again, so give me the top pick when I can get it.

The Blues have a lot of good, young talent, but they need a forward who has star potential. Snuggerud might be that — you don’t know. But again, if I can get one of the top two picks or even be in the top five, I’d take that for one year over the playoff experience, believing you can be back in the postseason soon.

If Colton Parayko had waived his no-trade clause for a move to the Buffalo Sabres, would general manager Doug Armstrong still have traded Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings? — Aaron R.

Yes, I believe they still would have dealt Faulk. The plan was to move the veterans. The Blues would’ve somehow had to replace both in the lineup.

How do you rate Jack Finley’s game since he’s been here? Where do you see him fit in down the road? — Rhonda S.

Finley has been phenomenal on faceoffs, to the point where Blues coach Jim Montgomery is using him to open overtime so the Blues can start with the puck. Other than that, he’s been OK. In 18 games, he’s been on the ice for three five-on-five goals against and none for. He’s 23 and has two years left on his contract, so it looks like the Blues are going to give him a chance. But the fourth line, where Finley has played, isn’t doing much for the team right now, especially offensively, and they’re going to need more from them.

Otto Stenberg has really impressed with his defensive instincts and stick play. What’s he missing from being a legit third-line shutdown center instead of a winger? — Casey S.

I agree with you on Stenberg’s stick and like your question. Everyone I talk to connected with the team says winger, but he’s really responsible and always well-positioned, so I don’t think center is completely out of the question. Maybe he doesn’t drive offense, but he can make plays. He’s only 20, so perhaps we’ll see him in the middle at some point, but the evaluators and decision-makers believe he’s a winger.

Jonathan Breggren has looked like a capable forward. Any chance he’s created an opportunity for himself on next season’s roster? — Larry S.

I like him. I know he’s a skilled guy, and you’re going to question his willingness to win one-on-one battles at times, but he makes so many high-end plays that I don’t know how you can look the other way. If he can be responsible enough, I don’t see why there can’t be a spot on your third line for him.

Which of these players do you see on the Blues’ 2026-27 roster: Berggren, Finley, Jonathan Drouin, Justin Holl, Matthew Kessel, Oskar Sundqvist, Alexey Toropchenko, Tyler Tucker and Nathan Walker? — Scott F.

On the roster: Berggren, Finley, Toropchenko, Tucker and perhaps Walker. The Blues could move Toropchenko, but I think they still like his forechecking. They like Tucker’s physicality. Walker won’t be a regular, but he can be a depth player.

Not on the roster: Drouin, Holl, Kessel, Sundqvist. Drouin is a mystery to me because he’s got another season left on his deal ($4 million AAV), but the Blues have no problem making him a healthy scratch. They could keep Kessel, who will be a restricted free agent, as depth. Sundqvist’s time will likely come to an end.

It feels like a lot of pucks are bouncing off Logan Mailloux’s skates, body or stick and going in our net. Could that be corrected with tweaks, or is it just being unlucky? — Matt M.

I’ve seen the ones you’re referring to, and I’d chalk it up to bad luck. He’s playing a lot more minutes, so the chances are greater that it’s going to happen, and when it rains, it seems to pour.

Are the Blues going to regret the Mailloux-Zack Bolduc trade? I say no. — Patrick O.

I don’t think they do or should. Mailloux’s development has been right on track. I know Bolduc has struggled, going long stretches without producing, but he’s only 23, and I still think he’s going to be a good player.

After talking about needing more grit when they brought in Milan Lucic, the Blues traded one of their most physical forwards in Schenn. Do you think they try to add some toughness up front in the offseason? — Matt M.

Yes, I think more toughness will be a priority for incoming GM Alexander Steen.

What do you think the Blues’ plan would be to help Steen adjust to his new role as GM should Armstrong end up going to Toronto? Do you know of any “out” in Armstrong’s contract? — Dave K.

I don’t think the Blues would grant the Maple Leafs permission to talk to Armstrong unless there was an honest conversation where it was clear that he didn’t want to be in St. Louis. He does not have an out in his contract.

Can the Blues receive compensation (i.e. draft picks) if they grant Toronto permission to speak to Armstrong and then ultimately hire him? — Michael C.

No, as colleague Pierre LeBrun wrote recently, there would be no compensation.