Bruins GM on likelihood of trading a defenseman: 'We just have too many'

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli had a bit of a slow summer, but there are a few key tasks remaining on his offseason to-do list. With nine defensemen under contract heading into training camp, Chiarelli admits a trade involving a blueliner is more than likely.

"You don’t wish one of these (defensemen) to be traded, but we just have too many," Chiarelli opined, as per the Boston Herald. "At some point, I’m going to have to do it, and all the teams in the league, most of the teams in the league would like one."

At the top of the list of potential trade chips is Johnny Boychuk, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Chiarelli hinted strongly that Boychuk may indeed be the odd man out, despite a clear desire on both sides to keep that relationship going for one more run at the Stanley Cup. 

But with the cash-strapped Bruins unlikely to match what the 30-year-old will command on the open market, and Torey Krug and Reilly Smith still yet unsigned, Boychuk's departure may be inevitable.

Chiarelli continued:

I know everyone’s waiting, ‘What move will (he) make? What move will (he) make?’ Well, I have to see what’s going to happen, see who fits well with whom, but the uncertainty is something this year that is a byproduct of the cap and a successful team and locking up those guys, and eventually there’s other guys that are just going to get too expensive (ie: Boychuk). I don’t cast any aspersions on them for being at that level, but that’s what it’s at.

Along those lines, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Tuesday that trade talks revolving around Boychuk do indeed appear to be heating up.

Much of the speculation surrounds Matt Bartkowski and Johnny Boychuk. Two months ago, as talks between the Bruins and (Edmonton) Oilers fell apart, it sure seemed like the plan was to try and keep Boychuk for one more run. But there’s more smoke than a Cheech and Chong movie, so you wonder if that’s changed.

With training camp rapidly approaching, Chiarelli may be forced to make a deal sooner than later.