St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is preparing for the massive departure of star center Robert Thomas as the trade deadline rapidly approaches.

Boston is aggressively hunting for a legitimate top-line anchor right now. General manager Don Sweeney desperately wants to make a massive splash to save the season.

The Eastern Conference wildcard race is an absolute bloodbath this winter. Relying on average offensive output will absolutely not guarantee a deep run in the playoffs.

Respected NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently confirmed the exact asking price for the elite playmaker is astronomical. The St. Louis front office wants a massive return.

Management explicitly demands an established top-six forward slightly younger than their departing 26-year-old asset. They want an overwhelming offer they simply cannot refuse.

Because of that incredibly strict criteria, Boston naturally emerges as the absolute perfect trading partner. The dots connect beautifully across the board.

Enter Casey Mittelstadt as the primary centerpiece of this proposed blockbuster transaction. He completely fits the required profile for a rapidly rebuilding roster.

Bruins to pay massive price for Robert Thomas

Mittelstadt brings exceptional vision and crisp passing to the top power play unit. Career-wise, he consistently generates high-danger chances in heavy traffic around the blue paint.

His current contract carries a highly manageable $5.75 million cap hit through next season. That financial flexibility is highly attractive for a franchise looking to shed salary immediately.

But a straight one-for-one swap will absolutely not get this complex deal across the finish line. The Blues firmly hold all the leverage right now.

Thomas is safely locked into a massive eight-year extension carrying a hefty $8.125 million cap hit. Elite number-one centers simply rarely hit the open market in March.

To truly sweeten the pot, Boston must also surrender a highly touted young prospect like Matt Poitras. Sacrificing the future is the ruthless reality of chasing a Stanley Cup.

Poitras brings tremendous upside to the table, but management is reportedly completely willing to move him for the absolute perfect veteran upgrade.

And packaging both of those young assets easily meets the massive demands currently coming out of Missouri. It is a steep overall price, but entirely necessary.

Sweeney must pull the trigger immediately before a desperate divisional rival swoops in. The Bruins locker room desperately needs this solid execution down the middle.