Hours before, Jarome Iginla was headed to Boston in a alleged deal which would fortify the front lines of a team struggling with bouts of inconsistency as the playoffs grow near. Iginla, the most talented player available across league trade blocks, figured to be the defining piece of whichever team he joined. The aging veteran would take Boston by storm, immediately make an impact while awing fans with his offensive skills and a willingness to buy into the team concept employed by Claude Julien. The narrative, and for the moment the deal, were set in place.
But this morning offered a different tale. Things did not go as planned for Peter Chiarelli, as I had the privilege of finding out in the early hours of a gloomy Thursday morning. And as more of you awoke to the news of Iginla's deal to a rival (hopefully at a later time without an exam to stress over), the general mood stayed consistent. Shock, confusion, anger, jealousy.
Those damn Pittsburgh Penguins.
For the second time this week, Peter Chiarelli found himself on the losing end of a battle for Eastern Conference supremacy. His opponent on the other end, Ray Shero, General Manager of the Penguins. Shero has turned a combination of draft picks and middling prospects into Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, and Douglas Morrow, strengthening a team that didn't offer many flaws to begin with.
To pour salt in the would, as if Bruins fans haven't had enough already, Shero came incredibly close to becoming the lead executive of the Bruins in 2006. Ironically, talks broke down at the last second, and Shero instead fled for Steeltown USA.
Funny how that works.
Now, the Bruins are left reeling, left to scour a rather slim trade market as injuries mount and pressure from other conference foes increases. After another blown 3rd-period lead to vaunted rival Montreal, Boston must quickly change focus and look for improvements at essentially any position. These past few weeks haven't been kind to either Chiarelli or Julien, as noticeable flaws in defensive consistency and an inability to score timely goals have turned the Bruins from definite cup contender to and erratic bunch filled with question marks.
Would Jarome Iginla have solved every problem? Maybe not.
And to be fair, it's impossible to place blame on Boston. Chiarelli made a competitive offer, as a combination of Alex Kokhlachev and Matt Bartkowski coupled with a first-round draft pick trumped Pittsburgh's deal in the eyes of Calgary GM Jay Feaster.
Unfortunately, much like Brenden Morrow's situation in Dallas, Jarome Iginla did not want to play in Boston. And while that sounds shocking to those who live and die by the black and gold, Iginla's preference to skate with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh makes too much sense. With playmakers all over the ice, Iginla can breathe in Pittsburgh in hopes of rekindling the scoring prowess which made him one of the best in the NHL.
Now, the Bruins are left to pick up the pieces, again. Chiarelli now has two options. Stay content to ride it out with a roster which has won a cup before, or go "all-in," moving prospects to secure notable talent which can compete with Pittsburgh. But will it be enough?
The season hangs in the balance for the Bruins. Can Peter Chiarelli make another timely trade, a theme Bostonians have become accustomed too at the NHL trade deadline? Or have the Penguins turned this into a NBA-esque arms race?
Time is running out.
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