The Boston Bruins continue to suffer from the loss of Jarome Iginla.
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has long sought a big right-winger to fill the spot in the lineup and on the score sheet left by Iginla's departure and continues to scout the NHL trade market for a deal for a powerful veteran presence.
It seems the focus has narrowed for the Boston brass, with a handful of familiar names still topping the list.
But Joe Haggerty of CSN New England has also added a new name to the ledger - a former Bruin and current New Jersey Devil by the name of Michael Ryder.
"The one intriguing name, Michal Ryder of the New Jersey Devils," said Haggerty. "He has become a healthy scratch down there, obviously he's got history with the Bruins, he's had success with David Krejci in the past and I don't think he's going to cost a lot to get. He would be a real interesting solution. But they've got to get a veteran in there."
Ryder has appeared in 42 games this season, amassing six goals and 12 assists. He has played in eight games after returning to the team from a short stint with the mumps, but has again become a healthy scratch, leading some, including Rich Chere of NJ.com, to wonder if Ryder has requested a trade.
While Ryder denied that he had, it's not hard to envision him ending up elsewhere as the team continues to win without his presence on the ice.
Chris Stewart of the Buffalo Sabres and Zach Kassian of the Vancouver Canucks are both intriguing players whom Charielli has also inquired into and who seem like they could be good fits should the price match the product, with Haggerty noting that Stewart seems the most likely because of the low price tag.
Kassian is talented and fits the mold of what the Bruins like in a power forward, but he's been inconsistent and the cost to acquire him probably won't match his production to this point in his NHL career.
