Bruins gamble by trading Seguin

Boston GM Peter Chiarelli
pulled the trigger on a big trade Thursday.
Courtesy of nhl.com

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is not playing it safe this off-season.

Chiarelli shipped Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button to Dallas Thursday for Loui Eriksson and minor leaguers Matt Fraser, Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow.

Trading Seguin (121 career points in three seasons)  is a major gamble. However, what Chiarelli got in return might make Boston fans forget Seguin. Eriksson (357 career points) has been a solid winger for Dallas over the last seven seasons, but the real prize is Fraser, who scored more goals the last two years (70) than any other player in the American Hockey League. If Fraser can make a quick adjustment to the NHL level, he has the potential of being a 40-goal, 20-assist player.

Smith had a solid rookie season, scoring a total of 17 goals and 27 assists bouncing between Dallas and its AHL affiliate in Austin. He may not be a big-time contributor, but he will add some scoring depth to Boston's lineup.

Dallas' lackluster offense should get a jolt with Seguin's addition, but that's pretty much all that the Stars have to hang their hats on. Peverley is a serviceable third-line center, while Button is a young defenseman who should stay in the minor leagues. Frankly, I'm surprised Dallas was willing to give up Fraser, Smith and Eriksson as part of this deal. The Stars should have hung onto one of those three.

So, kudos to Peter Chiarelli for having the guts to jettison a young talent like Tyler Seguin to land another young, talented forward in Matt Fraser and acquiring Loui Eriksson and Reilly Smith in the process. As for Dallas, Stars fans have to hope that Seguin lights a fire under the rest of the offense.