The Bruins didn't pull off the big splash that many in the area had hoped the team would pull off, but Chiarelli did add a few much-needed pieces to help the B's on their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
The acquisitions of left-handed defensemen Mike Mottau and Greg Zanon add depth to the Bruins back-line and sure things up in case Johnny Boychuk's concussion is more severe than it appears. The return of former Bruins' forward Brian Rolston (2000-2004) should also at least quell some needs up front, while Nathan Horton (concussion) and Rich Peverley (knee) recover in hopes of a return before the playoffs.
Mottau, a Quincy, Mass. native and former Hobey Baker Award winner at Boston College, has no goals and just two assists in only 29 games for the New York Islanders this season.
As for Zanon, the 31-year-old defenseman comes over from the Minnesota Wild in a deal for Bruins prospect Steven Kampfer. Zanon has totals of just 2-4-6 so far this season, but the 5-foot-11 defenseman is best known for his bruising style and shotblocking skills — he ranked second in the NHL in 2011.
Finally there's Rolston, who comes over from the Islanders along with Mottau. Rolston spent some of the best seasons of his career in Boston, posting between 48 and 62 points in each of his four seasons in Boston. The winger is certainly not the same player that posted 34-45-79 totals for Minnesota back in the 2005-2006 season, but he should help secure the forward position and give the B's more time to deal with nagging injuries.
Although the Bruins front-office didn't make any major waves before this year's trade deadline, they did make a few moves to help ensure some depth for the reigning Stanley Cup champs.
Do you think that they did enough for another run at the Cup in 2012?
