For the Boston Bruins, it seems to have become a matter of when and not if an NHL trade deadline deal will go down.
With David Krejci out for, perhaps, the remainder of the regular season, Milan Lucic playing like he's not sure he wants to be on the ice and the team as a whole seemingly losing their grip on the final NHL playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, a trade has become a near-certainty for the Boston franchise.
According to the latest NHL trade rumor, from ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is "trying" to land Arizona Coyotes center/winger Antoine Vermette to help alleviate the team's issues.
The Bruins interest in Vermette has long been rumored. He's a tough, gritty, versatile forward that plays all 200-feet of the ice and provides the type of personality and skill set necessary to win in the NHL playoffs.
He'd be a big get for Boston - but he won't come cheap.
As such, Chiarelli is keeping the lines of communication open on other potential options as well.
"They want a winger and do they ever," LeBrun said, while appearing on TSN's Insider Trading, per NicholsOnHockey.com. "It's been something Peter Chiarelli has been going after at least for a month now in a very serious manner, making a lot of calls. Chris Stewart - they've had that dance going all year with the Buffalo Sabres. They're still in on him. Erik Cole - that's a little more new, but they have interest in him. Cam Atkinson. Curtis Glencross. One of those rental wingers is a player that the Bruins would love to hem in before Monday."
Ryan Spooner will get an extended look in Krejci's absence, but it's somewhat farfetched to expect a young player to step in and provide the type of spark necessary to keep the Bruins in the hunt.
It seems Chiarelli has his sights set squarely on adding a veteran piece to upgrade the team for the stretch run of the regular season and, if all goes according to plan, the playoffs.
