The Boston Bruins are one of several NHL teams that should strongly pursue a deal for a top-four defenseman before the March 21 trade deadline.
You can never have enough depth on the blue line, and the Bruins have found that out first-hand in recent seasons, including last year when injuries to Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller proved fatal in Boston's second-round playoff series loss to the New York Islanders.
One of the top defenseman rumored to be available is Ben Chiarot of the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old veteran is in the final year of his contract, and with the Canadiens sitting at the bottom of the league standings, it makes sense for them to move him and get some assets for the team's rebuild.
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Which contenders have shown an interest in Chiarot?
"The internal debate for the Montreal Canadiens now after they almost did deal Chiarot in the (Tyler Toffoli trade with Calgary) is how long they drag this out with Ben Chiarot," TSN's Pierre LeBrun said during Tuesday's "Insider Trading" segment. "There's already sizable interest from other teams. You name a playoff contender, I believe they've phoned (the Canadiens). The likes of Florida, Boston, the Rangers, St. Louis, among others. And the Flames could circle back on Chiarot at some point.
"The debate for the Habs is there was a minor injury scare for Chiarot over the weekend. What happens if that happens again? Do they decide to take their best offer soon here? I believe that could happen within the next seven to 10 days. You mentioned a first-round pick, I think they'd love to get a first-round pick plus another asset. We'll see whether they can do that."
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It would be pretty weird to see the Bruins and their most hated rivals strike a trade, but if the B's make the best offer, Montreal would be foolish to not strongly consider it.
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Chiarot does make sense for the Bruins. For starters, he plays the left side of the blue line -- an area the Bruins should upgrade. He's also a legitimate top-four defenseman, which is another need for Boston to address. Chiarot isn't going to light up the stat sheet with flashy scoring numbers -- nine points (five goals, four assists) in 44 games this season -- but he's a very smart, defensively sound player who brings plenty of physicality to the ice. So, on paper, the fit is pretty good.
The issue is cost. LeBrun mentioned the Canadiens potentially asking for a first-round pick and another piece. That's a lot to give up for player who could leave the Bruins in free agency this summer.
The Bruins shouldn't be opposed to trading their 2022 first-round pick for the right player. Quite frankly, it's one of their best trade assets. But giving up a first-rounder for Chiarot is too steep of a price. A second-round pick and a prospect would be a much better package for the Bruins.