The Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues have a bit of recent history that makes any potential trade talks between them more than just business - there’s some emotional weight behind it too.
It all traces back to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, where the Blues edged out the Bruins in a hard-fought series that still stings in Boston. Since then, the relationship has evolved, especially with Jim Montgomery - once fired by St.
Louis - now behind the Bruins' bench. Add in the fact that Bruins GM Don Sweeney and Blues GM Doug Armstrong are working side by side in the Team Canada front office, and you've got a unique dynamic that could shape up into something significant at the trade deadline.
Despite their shared duties with Team Canada, Sweeney and Armstrong have managed to keep their NHL business separate - but that line might be starting to blur. The Bruins have already shown their hand as buyers, reportedly making a serious push for Rasmus Andersson.
That tells the league they’re ready to make moves. Meanwhile, the Blues are said to be open for business, with names like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou being floated in trade talks.
And if Armstrong is truly listening, Thomas makes a lot of sense for Boston.
Let’s talk about fit. The Bruins have been searching for a true first-line center ever since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci walked away from the game.
That kind of leadership and two-way excellence doesn’t grow on trees, and while Boston has done a solid job patching things together, Thomas would be the kind of long-term solution they’ve been missing. He’s having a quieter season by his standards, but at his peak, he’s a point-per-game player who plays with defensive responsibility - the kind of player who fits the Bruins’ identity to a tee.
That said, Boston’s not exactly desperate. Over the past year, Sweeney has quietly built up a promising group of young centers.
James Hagens, Dean Letourneau, Fraser Minten, and Dans Locmelis all project as potential NHL contributors, and that gives the Bruins some breathing room. They’re no longer in a spot where they have to overpay for a center.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t explore a deal, especially for a player like Thomas who checks so many boxes.
If a trade does materialize, it’s worth watching what pieces might go the other way. Jim Montgomery knows the Bruins’ young talent well, and he was reportedly high on both Mason Lohrei and Matthew Poitras during his time in Boston. Those names came up in the Bruins’ pursuit of Andersson, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Montgomery pushed for one or both in any conversation with the Blues.
Of course, a player like Thomas - a 26-year-old top-six center on a team-friendly deal for the next five seasons - isn’t going to come cheap. Boston would likely need to sweeten the pot with draft capital. The big question: would Sweeney be willing to part with a first-round pick?
It’s a tough call. If the Bruins continue hovering in the middle of the first round, it’s fair to wonder whether any prospect available in that range could make the kind of immediate impact Thomas would. And with the Bruins in win-now mode - and Thomas aligning more closely in age with the current core - the logic starts to lean toward making the move.
But if the price for Thomas climbs too high, there’s another option on the table: Jordan Kyrou. He wouldn’t cost as much, but he could still give the Bruins a boost, especially on the wing behind David Pastrnak. Kyrou brings speed, skill, and scoring depth - and with Boston looking to solidify its top-nine forward group, that could be a savvy pickup.
Bottom line: the Bruins are in a position to make a move, and the Blues are one of the more intriguing trade partners out there. Whether it’s Thomas, Kyrou, or someone else entirely, the groundwork is there for something meaningful. And with Sweeney and Armstrong already in regular contact through Team Canada, the path to a deal might be a little shorter than usual.