Boston Bruins Looking to Add to Top Line Before Trade Deadline

The Boston Bruins started their NHL season poorly, mostly because of key players being injured and the inability of their coach to roll out a consistent lineup.

However, with a healthy roster for the last month, Boston is playing strong hockey and showing signs of returning to contender status for the Stanley Cup.

Now that Boston is back in form, Peter Chiarelli their general manager could relax a bit, but that is not likely. Chiarelli’s approach the last few season has been add a few players to the roster and not take away from the core group that won the 2011 Stanley Cup and returned in 2013 to the finals before bowing to the Chicago Blackhawks.

This season, Boston needs another forward who can produce points. The Bruins could also use help with a veteran or two on defense.

Chiarelli has looked since this past offseason for help with many names surfacing as possibilities. Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart are two forwards on the Buffalo Sabres who might come available.

Jordan Edberle from Edmonton has his name in the rumor. Martin Erat and Antoine Vermette two forwards from the Arizona Coyotes are possibilities for the Bruins.

If Boston makes any deal, the club will have to depart with a player that is NHL caliber, as well as prospects and one or more draft picks.

Chiarelli could move Jordan Caron a forward and Matt Bartkowski a defenseman.

While a top priority has been trying to fill the void on the team’s No. 1 line on the right side, finding someone similar to former Boston stars Jarome Iginla and Nathan Horton to compliment Milan Lucic and David Krejci is challenging.

There are options in-house for the Bruins for the top line opening including Reilly Smith. His recent insertion into the No. 1 line has shown some chemistry.

If finding the right player to fit his needs is not enough to worry about, Chiarelli has constraints due to the salary cap. He really cannot take on much unless he moves current contracts as well.

There is just over $2.2 million left in cap space and Boston must re-sign soon to be free agents Torey Krug, Dougie Hamilton and Smith during the offseason.

Boston’s GM has not been afraid to make deals since he came onboard in 2009. He has added players such as Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly. Those four helped Boston to a Stanley Cup win in 2011.

Other deals at the trade deadline have included Jaromir Jagr, Andrej Meszaros and Wade Redden. If Boston reached the postseason, the club could be dangerous and what Chiarelli is able to do will make them that much stronger.