Peter Chiarelli, Bruins GM

Say what you will about the National Hockey League one thing in particular that I think they get right is that trading deadline. 40 some odd guys change teams yesterday the Bruins were in the thick of it as well with a couple of trade deadline deals. General manager Peter surely joins us on the line right now ought to talk about the -- moves in the league in general I Peter how are. I'm good I'm good are you. Great thanks much sleep did you get the two days leading up to yesterday.

I got a lot of sleep last night and yeah -- but you know it's been a it's been a month month and a half long process and of these deals that that you see them on the last stating there. -- to two months in the making. Commuters discussions discount offers concepts exchanged and you know that of course the other -- to the other GM isn't so everything has pledged itself Sutton. Ultimately there's a lot of deals but there's a lot is about more than just the trade deadline date.

Well Peter let's go deal by deal here why first of all did you think that brad Boyes was expendable what were you looking to get in return there.

Well brad certainly -- good -- had a very good year last year he's young so reproductive atop the mean means he's excitable piece of the puzzle. We felt we had a surplus in an area and where which one went to -- and so castles and playing with two winters in which Penske will pursue. So you don't beat it. Each used to make expendable you have a surplus and then obviously you have to attribute team and -- Prologue time we've been looking for her there's certain types of defenseman. It is short -- Stetson and missed player became available and and that was the Senate.

I think it's fairly safe to say Bruins fans haven't seen a lot of this guy tell us what Drew him to you in particular and and what's -- that you're looking for.

Well he's spews I guess is is the the biggest match of his skills that it is kind of is so expensive awareness citizen's ability to move the puck. He sees he's not the biggest guy but he is six feet -- over 200 -- picked -- strong. But he really excelled and take that -- retrieving it then moving it went off like the first -- so important to get to the -- forwards. He's got process that it tuition which is which is could he was playing in the top four. And he's young and what capitalist influences that they've been signing brewer. And -- he became he became expendable because they had. They had their top force said -- their job coming in the mix in the southern. -- Plaxico. He became expendable he's a guy that we target for a long time with but it -- long book on from extra point when he was drafted right through. So he yeah I was an attractive player.

Another deal you made you said Paul merit to the Rangers got back Aaron -- personal let's focus on the hour for a second why didn't it work out well for him here.

I guess that is couple ways of looking at it and a one night I gotta say that Paul is. Heard a lot of good things about before I came here -- and and when he got here I got here to meet those things or was that much more. Eat I think what happened was is that the east -- itself in addition to the dynamics here. And he was in I -- part of it is that Paul as an offensive side to his game and -- I don't think it ever came out. Now why did mcenroe Wallis noticed a lot of matches to about. I you know I felt that. -- brought something that we really didn't have a lot of it was section experience and of the defensive experience and depth that that we didn't have it of course if you look at the two deals. Those that -- together I think their defense is improving you have to bring mr. -- and also that we've improved overall you know.

This team has had problems in the goals against department I'm not tell on any tails out of school here did you feel that you had to fix the back Kendall hockey club before anything else.

Well -- you know -- you can play a lot of areas that you want to improve on and that was probably the most glaring. And just. In -- it's really that simple maneuver of getting the top of forwards and letting them do what they do best and I wanted to improve that. And part of that is being able to chief parks and -- the only direct passes and wish that you avoid the other -- running around that defensive zone coverage where you of that and it's hard -- listed age. When it's hard to defend what you -- that a pitching gets that position and -- in blow yours owner even in the top of the circles. It's hard to it's hard to get the puck back so we wanted to take that intermediate step improved the backhand from the from the puck moving ability and then and as you know and I think overall it also has at least suggests that we -- where harder unit -- defensively --

Well at least we can't say this about you Peter come on make a deal analogy because you about clearly I haven't shown any kind of hesitant to make a deal we were just talking about it earlier. You know you have ten guys on the roster now who weren't here. In October November it is this is that the trend that we can expect from Peter surely that he'll make a deal -- them like what he's seen.

Well I pride myself on being patient and and you look at be you know you look that you're session TV see what happens you have to beat the part of -- you have to be patient with the chemistry so. Settle down and then try to -- but you know you have to you have to move quickly to win when you want to -- areas in the aren't we do have stepped. Coming down the pipeline by these years or so we had to move quickly.

Late last week you signed Marco Sturm to a contract extension probably in most people's minds and taking him off the trade market if he had been prior to that how much of the contract do you think was based on the fact that you're asking him to sign before the deadline. And you were having to pay to get him to give up on restricted free agency.

Excuse me come. Almost those factors involved in that this is something with -- that we've been discussed for a long time so that's an obvious leverage point when he gets the trade deadline and most parties recognize that. What is your it was or premium I don't -- holes in the market is December week we felt that was a price that was fair in that. You know whenever you get to the market it'd inevitably the prices you'd be tires so. Marco -- at a higher priced but you know we got a lot of discussions like you're doing you're like fit in. We will look at --

Obviously Peter different general managers and general take take different approaches to the trading deadline with their coaches. What what has it been like with Dave Lewis the last two or three days that you consider these deals and ultimately closed gone.

Well you have to you know E is Saudi resources so -- speak with the coach's -- scares ghetto or many airports. Where are important people and we have opposite. We have the speak for so -- talked to everybody and you kind of weird. And that's just been through a combination of a lot of work and we that we stared back -- meetings in January in new -- you. -- percent less -- areas of interest in. What you know it's a separate article approach you go along the way and you have to have this just in place so when you get to the final days that it deals mop that you considered. Players have interest smoke that you want you have to be able to act quickly now with -- you know -- yeah I keep you apprised along the way. And I get -- negative opinion of typical staff's opinion and you know I'll make the decision.

It's it's safe to say that the deals that you made here over the last month or so. Were made not so much for the long term although we hope it works out that regard but you were trying to make deals to help this team get into the playoffs this year.

Well I've I've made deals that we've made these deals if you look at the first that this parents uncle pursuit -- These young players that are good players. And and then the players we get up were unsigned and whether we were going to be able assignment not balance the Turkish that we mean internally. And then you look at that it deals here it was. We get back you know we we gave up so muted in feeling on getting Aaron but we get back a young player that -- so. You know it's it's hard to find players. There's 30 teams in in pictures you saw other partners such team's turnaround first round picks the last few days. That that's that's that's indicative of the value of the and it's it's he you have to act in yet. You don't want to you don't want to mortgage the future but you also have to recognize that it's hard to find players in and and that -- in the opposite to it presents itself to get young players that are that are proven that you like connected in do you plan went after the last two.

Part of the fund would deals is trying to imagine what could have happened I mean Boston lore. There was almost a Ted Williams for Joe dimaggio trade so with all that said. Did you get any phone calls about Zdeno Chara and the phone calls ball marks of -- Patrice Bergeron even the Phillies doubt that anybody -- you. This is what I'll give you want to your top three yeah.

Yes they did. I got they got actually got three phone calls in the last three weeks. That really were not starters but you know guys -- Medal in -- expect recalled receive them.

So when they called the day. Laughed at the end of the proposal they -- series.

They've probably laugh -- they have -- phone. -- never know though.

you made two deals and and I'm just wondering simple mathematics. That means you make one deal for every X number of proposals out there what's the acts how many proposals were sifting through.

Well you know part of double. Exchanged between GMs -- processes that you -- you know field for. What's happening globally and I mean there's tons of things flying left to right. Nobody got to stick to 62 your original plan and the other is. Count on the advice that your advisers coaches in what not and but there there are numerous ones and you know on whether it on the deals 25 a bit like a picture. Proposals that right in my division maybe territory times that.

You made -- move at the goaltending position over the weekend was goaltending one of your targets during this trade period.

Well I want to disrupt adapt and and you know we've got obviously we've got enough we have enough space that -- space as -- recall that I told haven't -- respect. You know we go down. Played get some games and certainly -- back up here. And so it was -- moved the mechanics of this deviate. Pat has moves -- down prior to the deadline and that we are able to get George MacDonald whose. You know he's its records not back create as good as as it really as a number three but that's. View of the numbers treaty he barely had any practice time to turn itself but it we've been able to sharper adapt in the short term and that was one of the -- to do.

Peter are memorable we talk to you here in the studios use said that he wanted to he won the team with some grit and you admitted that's very difficult to have everybody wants that. How do you get -- how do you get players like that if you compare the team that you have right now. To the team had in in November December do you think that your moving toward that greatly missed it are you closer now.

Where did our part I think -- I think clearly. We batted players in -- CEO -- plays he's got he's got that little bit of edge to -- as. You know what I say great it's not some little Gorton away on somebody. A player church -- sorts it's like it's just battling being on the right -- the -- and -- they had. And that's stuff -- support stay out about stuff ultimately turns the -- You're shape which he's doing it so I I think we've we've added dinner you know it's a never ending battle to kind of bounced to meet. Great skill when we're -- to to do that.

I was talking to deal about this we've actually talked about a lot a lot this week. Discussing the amount of games superlative -- you had ten games where you've lost by four goals are more. And every at every team in every sport gets blown out every now and then but when -- what happens ten -- got to be concerned when you see these things happening. Do you know immediately what the problem is technically or do you think it is a matter of effort.

Well it is you know he could point to certain games in a tendency to what you lose -- Portugal's most -- to break down. Here here -- there but when it's great and it's four or five it's like wow. It is addictive boils down to collective effort is what you would with the cases if you talk generally and you know if it happened really quickly now -- that that -- it's it's tough to defend lenient we have to let it effect their past. And he can't really it just economy anymore so when you're down you play out -- that you play -- defensive game. And that of course is that. -- a -- also expect that you're you can lose a game and then figure that you're bound to let in more goals in its stop having classmate UC a couple of game season. You know teams up five point five side you know -- wax classmate immunity it happens but we east -- race happen a lot --

Peter how close are a couple of -- walking wounded today to getting back in the lineup particularly glen Murray and chuck cope with some.

Well I am able -- actual practice today and at a preliminary talk what their coach trainer. On the little bit more towards -- in the day in either really close you know -- sillier to moreland. The talk retrieve it later on the --

Obviously when you made the move for Brandon Bochenski -- did sell with a certain knowledge base. That other GMs might not have had but has he surprised with how he's jumped in at the NHL level and performed so far

no no he hasn't and and again I guess some easier guys that you know he. He's obvious that the obvious triggered a great release any -- of talks going to be any smart player and I know he didn't have a center in Chicago. And I -- yesterday you know someone has to get in the -- testers in the park and he had -- an auto. -- got injured. And he was on the first plant in an injured and it just couldn't find his way back that in and came back to -- again. They are -- great so he demoted. So if it was if I was a pleasantly surprised that he humorous he wasn't doing well offensively in Chicago. But -- crisis we need to do to get in the pocket think he can -- score.

The beater and -- you got your hands full trying to do your own job but as you look at some of these trades around the league. Anything jaw about it you whether it was San Jose acquiring -- the islanders Nashville even Philadelphia.

Well I guess that would wondered that jumped out of bed and -- you with the actual competition that the Tuesday deal. Because in the media -- had and they were closed the cap but there was a way to get him through an LT IX. But he just it was just. It was it was it could chaos huge right or conduct yes it would have probably risky assortment yes. I was surprised -- are suppressed a bit because. He I have a lot of discussions with with Kevin -- in general in. The last couple months and and they put brick building have signed him so I was surprised me.

He gets Philadelphia flyers in town here tomorrow night where you surprised that they picked up Marty Iran and we're willing to give up what is probably going to be a very high second round pick to get him

well it may have been that that Darcy wanted to him to go there to not help anyone else so the location didn't really surprised me price you know that priceless. If you look at the cost of the additions or possibly their replies in the press pretty accurate.

I guess I'm I'm trying to figure out what the what's in it for the flyers.

Why they can't speak for all over from -- but I'm sure they're going to -- signed.

You don't have the flyers come out of their -- but I -- that they're gonna.

I think it's certainly we play Atlanta they just kicked a check then replace -- if they get their -- and be standing on his head against us.

It you think that based on the scheduled what's left in the games in hand and all those things that we always talked about you've got a playoff caliber team in your locker room right now.

I think we have a good chance at making the playoffs if all the things on the place we've got to win at. Large stretch of games I think the last little run that we had. On the road was impressive because it was a tough games -- wrote. And -- Ers on Monday against Atlanta the guys are aware of what they have to do it in the expected that schedule. In the game Tuesday but I have to you know after every game but they have the likelihood of certain games and not -- it in there. So I know we're going to make a run for Adam. But it it will be a difficult task but and notice that guys want them to do.

And obviously the final question but -- but for fans may be not so obvious your new guys will be in your lineup tomorrow night. Yes I I didn't even know they got a chance committed skate.

Today you have a game today at their practice today.

Okay great yet Peter we appreciate time it's all listen level look forward to seeing at the rank. Eric great record thank Peter Peter Peter surely the general manager of the Boston Bruins