The Bruins will have until 3 p.m. today to close their business on the trade front. Unless the market shifts prior to the deadline, the Bruins will be on the hunt for depth reinforcements up front and on the back end.
Ex-Bruin Sami Pahlsson, currently toiling for the sad-sack Blue Jackets, could be one of their targets. Pahlsson won a ring with Shawn Thornton in Anaheim in 2006-07. Pahlsson is a left-shot center who would be a bottom-six forward with his former club.
Jaroslav Spacek could be one of their blue-line targets. The ex-Canadien was wheeled to Carolina earlier this season for Tomas Kaberle. Spacek would fill the Bruins’ need for a left-shot defenseman.
The Bruins have fewer chips to work with this year compared to last season. Their top assets are a 2012 first-round pick and a 2012 third-rounder, plus junior prospects Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Dougie Hamilton, last year’s first-rounder, is not available. There are no blue-chip prospects in Providence.
Last year, they have two 2011 first-round picks and two second-rounders. They dished their first-round pick and a conditional second-rounder, plus prospect Joe Colborne, to Toronto in the Kaberle deal. They traded their other second-round pick to Ottawa for Chris Kelly.
The Bruins will not give up roster players.
