Jarome Iginla, Reinforcements to Boston Bruins? [UPDATE]
By Kevin Carey
The Boston Bruins engaged in a spirited affair with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. NBC Sports Network’s Rivalry Night certainly lived up to the billing with these two historic foes, and the back-and-forth contest took six shootout rounds (with only one shot converted) to be decided. Boston battled back from a 2-0 deficit to earn multiple two-goal leads, but ultimately allowed Montreal to force overtime with just nine seconds remaining in regulation.
If something has been missing in Boston, at least help appears to be on the way. Earlier Wednesday, Boston claimed forward Kaspars Daugavins off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. Daugavins has just one goal and two assists in 19 games this season, but was the talk of the league a few weeks back for his daring shootout attempt against Boston. In addition to playing for a division rival, the Latvian is a well-known commodity to Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, who was a part of the Senators brass when Daugavins was drafted in 2006.
Another development on Wednesday had the Edmonton Oilers sending defenseman Ryan Whitney to Boston. Nothing has been confirmed, but the deal might be an easy one to complete for the 30-year-old blueliner, a frequent healthy scratch this season. Whitney is a native of the Boston-area, and a former star at Boston University. The fifth overall draft pick in 2002 has been slowed by injury in recent years, but would represent both depth and offensive potential for the Bruins.
Calgary Flames Captain Jarome Iginla; Mandatory Credit: Getty Images
The biggest story of the night, however, is the latest in the Jarome Iginla sweepstakes. The Calgary Flames captain was made a healthy scratch for Wednesday night’s game at home against the Colorado Avalanche, ending his streak of 441 consecutive games played. These types of scenarios don’t usually happen unless a trade is imminent, and the move is intended to assure that Iginla doesn’t suffer an injury in his final hours as a Flame.
The 35-year-old winger is in the final year of his contract. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer has spent 16 seasons in Calgary, but was recently reported to have penned a list of clubs that he would consent to waive his no-trade clause to join.
Fanning those trade flames even more, Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence also sat out two of their players tonight, a top prospect in forward Alexander Khokhlachev and defenseman Matt Bartkowski.
Khokhlachev, Boston’s second round, 40th overall pick in the 2011 draft, recently joined the Providence Bruins after splitting the season between Moscow Spartak of the KHL and the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Although Koko struggled to produce in his KHL-stint during the NHL lockout, he returned to Windsor to put up 22 goals and 26 assists in 29 OHL games. In his OHL career, Khokhlachev has been good for 213 points in 170 regular season and playoff games.
Bartkowski, a Pittsburgh-native, was acquired by the Bruins from the Florida Panthers (alongside Dennis Seidenberg) just before the 2010 trade deadline. The former Ohio State defenseman has spent most of his Bruins tenure in Providence, although he played the previous two NHL games with the big club prior to Wednesday night. Bartkowski is a -2 in the NHL this season, and is a -5 career player with no points in eleven games. He has a 3-19—22 line with 38 PIM in 50 AHL games this season, and on Tuesday signed a one-year, one-way extension with the Bruins.
As every sports news outlet had an eye on the Jarome Iginla situation, Canadiens forward and former Bruin Michael Ryder, believed to be on Boston’s radar earlier this season before he was dealt from the Dallas Stars, potted two goals against his former team. Recent struggles and a potential arms race with fellow Eastern Conference favorites like Montreal and the Pittsburgh Penguins may have upped the ante for Boston to make their move. The logistics are likely still being worked out, but Boston appears to have gotten their man.
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Update: March 28, 2013 12:40 am EST
It is being reported that the Boston Bruins have indeed acquired Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames for Alexander Khokhlachev, Matt Bartkowski, and a conditional first round pick. The condition appears to be dependent on Boston extending/resigning Iginla. The deal is expected to be announced on Thursday.
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Update: March 28, 2013 1:55 am EST
What seemed to be a done deal to the Boston Bruins proved to be inaccurate. Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster has just confirmed OFFICIALLY that Jarome Iginla has been dealt from Calgary to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Kenneth Agostino, Ben Hanowski, and a 2013 first round draft pick. Each of these forward prospects are currently competing in the NCAA tournament, Agostino for Yale and Hanowski for St. Cloud State.