Boston Bruins: How Long Should Peter Chiarelli Wait To Make A Deal?

The Boston Bruins still have too many “ifs” to answer before anyone openly proposes to ruffle the roster. General manager Peter Chiarelli’s trade button might as well be placed to the immediate left of the fans’ panic button. Press only in case of an indubitable emergency.

For the immediate future, the sole concern should be whether or not Chiarelli and head coach Claude Julien’s present allotment can ensnare that elusive consistency. The newly configured line combinations need more time to gel. David Krejci needs more time to thaw out from his recent injury. Shawn Thornton, Daniel Paille and the newly acquired Benoit Pouliot still need a chance to break out their production.

With all that being said, there is no cause to ice the idea of a trade completely off the table. Depending on how the Bruins are performing deep into next month and what their achievements or lack thereof can be attributed to, it is worth having a plan in handy. Taking action before, say, the end of the calendar year would not necessarily be out of line.

Given the general youth of this certifiably championship-caliber core, there is little sense in casting off any of the established NHLers on this roster. Although, if Pouliot is still barren by the time one-third of the schedule is gone, it might not be a bad idea to cut his Boston tenure short.

Regardless, there are always at least a couple of expendable prospects. Therefore, when and if someone does need to be added, Chiarelli should seek to export one or two Providence players, preferably ones who are not likely to see action with the parent club in the near future. Some examples include rookies Carter Camper and Craig Cunningham and journeyman Stefan Chaput.

Such an arrangement would benefit the organization on multiple levels. Theoretically, Chiarelli could reel in a slightly more seasoned and more reliable scorer to give Boston’s strike force more mustard. With that player appended to the other 12 forwards on the depth chart, Jordan Caron could get the additional time in Providence he still clearly needs.

Of late, multiple outlets have cited veteran Ray Whitney as a potential acquisition. On the surface, with his age and still-decent productivity, the current Phoenix Coyotes’ winger seems like an ideal replacement for Mark Recchi.

But as always, additional ideas are in order, especially if the Bruins want someone who is likely to stick around longer.

Based on their projected $4,122,357 in cap space, the Bruins have at least three other options that are, at the very least, remotely conceivable if the offense needed an emergency, cost-effective booster.

One young gun waiting to break through is Columbus Blue Jackets’ center Derick Brassard. His current contract has him making anywhere between $3 million and $3.7 million per year between now and the 2013-14 season. His cap hit figures to be $3.2 million in each of those individual campaigns.

One potential drawback is his history of injuries, but if the worst of that is behind him, then the best of Brassard’s production is yet to come. Although, in Boston, he would probably also need to demonstrate some flexibility and play on the wing most of the time. In addition, considering his youth and potential, the Jackets may ask for compensation that the Bruins would deem steeper than desirable.

Then there is Jiri Hudler, a nine-year veteran of the Detroit Red Wings organization. Generally cited as a top-six-caliber player struggling to find room in the upper echelon of the Detroit depth chart, he would cost an even $3 million in salary and a $2,875,000 cap hit.

And so far, Hudler has two goals and two assists to his credit through six games, more points than 12 of the Bruins through eight games.

Elsewhere, at a slightly higher cost but a potentially greater reward is Rene Bourque of the Calgary Flames. He would cost $4 million and create a $3,333,333 cap hit, but is coming off three consecutive 20-goal seasons in a non-playoff program and already with three goals in his first seven games this year.

As a side note, this guy bears the same first name as the Bruins’ long time beloved vocalist and shares a surname with one of the franchise’s most durable and classiest defensemen of all time. Think New Englanders would have much trouble embracing him, assuming he could come in and deliver as needed?

As is the case with Hudler, working Bourque into the Boston lineup would likely mean relegating an established top-six Bruin to the checking line. But that, in turn, would simply amount to more depth and those enticing “four rolling lines.”

Naturally, the one common complication with these and any other possible imports is that at least a handful of other teams are bound to be eyeing their services. So while it is more than possible that the Bruins could carry on and contend exactly as they are, it can’t hurt for Chiarelli to keep his head on a swivel and keep thinking about the rest of the season one step ahead of his employees.