St. Louis Blues fans might get riled up if you mention the Boston Bruins.
Current St. Louis Blues veteran Torey Krug, once a star player in Boston, hasn't lived up to such expectations in St. Louis.
Oh, and there's also the extensive history between the teams in Stanley Cup Finals matches.
However, the Bruins will see some important players depart in free agency.
Could the St. Louis Blues pursue a Boston Bruins defenseman?
Matt Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk is no stranger to St. Louis Blues fans. He was on the Bruins squad that lost to the Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.
It almost seems impossible that Grzelcyk, a native of the Boston area, would leave the Bruins, but his productivity in Boston hasn't lived up to expectations.
Grzelcyk, who is still relatively young at 30, might be the type of bargain defenseman that GM Doug Armstrong goes after.
His numbers aren't out of this world. Though he has stayed relatively healthy and has played in the majority of games in the past three seasons.
"There could be better names out there, but Grzelcyk would be more cost-effective…," wrote Todd Matthews, NHL Editor for FanSided.
Matthew's probably said it best: Grzelcyk is an affordable option for teams with limited cap space. Hence, he might be an addition the Blues could not only afford but also find useful.
Can a player like Grzelcyk make the Blues stronger?
Could an addition of Grzelcyk help Torey Krug find his old ways? It's an intriguing idea, considering their successful years as teammates in Boston.
This year, Grzelcyk recorded 76 blocks in 63 games of play.
He might not be the most dominating physical defenseman at 5'10" 180 lbs, but his consistency in putting up total points numbers in the 20s has made him an ideal midline player.
For a team needing help on defense and not possessing much cap space, the Blues will not be able to sign a star player to their roster.
Players like Grzelcyk fall into the equation as dependable, quality defensemen who can make an impact.
You could go worse than Grzelcyk. He's worth considering.