The Chuck Kobasew Deal: A Prelude to Bigger and Better Bruins Trades?

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Last night, the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild pulled off a trade: Craig Weller, a second-round pick, and the rights to prospect Alexander Fallstrom to the Bruins for right wing Chuck Kobasew.

Fallstrom, currently unsigned, was a fourth-round pick (116th overall) by the Wild in the 2009 draft. He also began his first year at Harvard University in September. The Swedish native has played for several semi-pro clubs in his homeland.

Weller, a fifth-round selection by the St. Louis Blues in 2000, is a tough forward. He has just 14 career points but 127 penalty minutes. He has played in 95 games in two seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes and the Wild. This season, Weller has been playing with the Wild's minor league team, the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.

Kobasew was acquired by the Bruins with Andrew Ference from the Calgary Flames for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, two-thirds of the three-player package the Bruins got from the San Jose Sharks in the Joe Thornton trade, which happened a few years ago, on Nov. 31, 2005.

The second-round draft pick represents the ninth pick the Bruins hold in the first or second rounds of the 2010 and the 2011 draft.

With all those draft picks in the Bruins' possesion, the Bruins might try and pull of a bigger move.

One name I've heard is Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is among the best players in the NHL. Only no one ever seems to notice. It's because Kovalchuck plays with the abysmal Atlanta Thrashers.

Kovalchuk has scored 304 career goals and 261 assists for a career points of 365.

Because the Thrashers have never been good, they'll be looking for some draft picks to rebuild their roster for the future.

The Bruins could send no more than four of their first- and second-round draft picks from the '10 and '11 drafts (they should keep five for themselves; they need to build their core of good young players with more good young players) and Marco Sturm. Sturm would give the Thrashers' young players veteran guidance, and Kovalchuk could thrive in the hockey-rich Boston and New England market.

The hockey hot stove is heating up, and we're only eight games into the season.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?