The NHL trade deadline is March 3 2010. However, Peter Chiarelli of the Boiston Bruins has been very active over the last week and the last month or so. It started with the Phil Kessel (stats)trade. Kessel was dealt to Toronto on September 19th for what could be the Leafs
Future. The Leafs gave first and second round draft choices in 2010 and a first rounder in 2011.

Chiarelli went back to the drawing board last week after the teams slow start which I assure you wasn’t a panic move it was trying to get the right pieces to the puzzle for the long haul. Chiarelli on October 18th sent Right Winger Chuck Kobasew (stats)to Minnesota
for Right Wingers Craig Weller (stats), and Alexander Fallstrom (selected 4th round by Minnesota in the 2009 entry draft) and a 2011 2nd round draft choice.

Chiarelli was active once again last night as he has stockpiled high round draft choices
The Bruins and and the Sabres made a deal within the Division. The Bruins sent conditional 3rd and 4th round draft choices to Buffalo for Forward Daniel Paille (stats). Of course Buffalo’s willingness to make this deal is perhaps all too telling of what they think of Paille.

The Bruins need some scoring punch with the loss of kessel who I’m not sure was totally committed to the Black and Gold and injuries to top line guys Milan Lucic and last night Marc Savard. Puts the Bruins a bit behind the eight ball.

I think the activity by Chiarelli is a two fold goal. He is building for the future and also he has some ammunition to use as trade bait. Like baseball the NHL season tends to be a marathon instead of a sprint. On or near March 3rd the Bruins maybe in position to make a deal that will launch them deep into the playoffs.

Presently they will need to work through this rough spot early in the season. They should kick into high gear once Savard and Lucic return and be in good position to make some noise at the end.