The Boston Bruins are still in the market for some scoring depth to help offset the defensive injuries they've been forced to endure this season and cement their status as Cup contenders.
After initial reports had them perusing the Edmonton Oilers lineup for potential additions, it sounds now like the St. Louis Blues could instead be their future trade partners.
ESPN's Pierre LeBrun appeared on a recent episode of Winnipeg's TSN 1290 and, per the transcription from NicholsOnHockey.com, reported that NHL trade chatter has picked up in recent days and that the Bruins specifically have begun looking more closely at the Blues - who have a plethora of forward talent - as a possible source of upgrade.
"In fact, the Bruins have had someone at the last two St. Louis Blues games," LeBrun said. "Peter Chiarelli himself was the game Wednesday night in Chicago, and Don Sweeney was at the game in Nashville last night and I'm told that the Bruins are eyeing one of the Blues' forwards. As we know, they've never replaced Iginla and the Bruins are going to, at some point, going to add a top-six winger before March 2. They like Chris Stewart in Buffalo, but they have been paying very close attention to the Blues the last couple of games, just FYI."
The Blues are immensely deep up front thanks to the addition of Paul Stastny, the break-out year from Viktor Tarasenko and a quietly impressive campaign from Jori Lehtera, who has seven goals and fifteen assists on the year.
They also boast a number of highly talented prospects at the AHL level.
It's not yet known which of the Blues forwards the Bruins are showing interest in, but Boston would most likely have to move one of their many young, NHL-ready defensemen in order to swing a deal.
The good news for fans of the black and gold; if LeBrun's report is correct, it's a matter of "when," and not "if," the Bruins consummate a deal and bring a top-six forward into the fold.
