Bruins explore other options now that Iginla’s gone

With Jarome Iginla now a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is moving on.

He’d still like to add a forward and a defenseman before next week’s trade deadline and he’s pouring through both potential UFA rental players, and deeper investments that would require giving up more in terms of talent and salary.

“I’ve got a lot of marks up on my board right now,” said Chiarelli. “It’s like a yard sale up there.”

The usual suspects’ names are being bandied about for top-six forwards. The Bruins will be all over Marty St. Louis if the Tampa Bay Lightning make him available for a trade; he would be the best possible option at this point. There’s also Jaromir Jagr, whom the B’s will certainly inquire about if the Dallas Stars can’t come to an agreement with the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer on a contract extension.

San Jose’s Ryan Clowe — a gritty winger with experience and size — has always been an option, as well. He’s still a possibility, but there are some questions about the status of his shoulder and the injury’s impact on a down season for him.

If Clowe can be packaged with All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle, then perhaps the Bruins can kill two birds with one stone in a deal with San Jose. Or perhaps the Bruins will deal with the Edmonton Oilers, where both Ryan Whitney and Ales Hemsky could be sent to Boston to fill a couple of needs. Maybe Chiarelli can convince his good buddy Jay Feaster to give him a Building #19 discount for Calgary’s Jay Bouwmeester as the Bruins search far and wide for a top-four defenseman.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/bruins-talk/bruins-explore-other-options-now-iginlas-gone