Felger & Mazz: Chiarelli's Approach At Deadline Being Put To Test Against Vanek, Canadiens
"I know there's been talk about [Thomas] Vanek going to Montreal, and they've strengthened their team and good for them. It never seems that we're the anointed winner of trade deadline day and I'm fine with that. They're a better team and I look forward to facing them."
- Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli following the trade deadline on March 5, 2014
98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Massarotti show led off Wednesday's program looking back at the comments made by Chiarelli because now, almost two months later, his Bruins are preparing to square off against the rival Canadiens and Thomas Vanek.
Vanek was there to be had. Montreal was aggressive and acquired him for prospects while the Bruins made no significant moves, instead taking a more conservative approach in bringing in depth defensemen Andrej Meszaros and Corey Potter.
It's worth keeping an eye on how Vanek performs in this series, because if he does well, or heaven forbid leads the Habs to the Eastern Conference Finals, those words will surely come back to haunt Chiarelli and the Bruins.
"If you want to talk about individual stakes, Chiarelli has a lot at stake in this series," said Mazz to lead off the discussion. "What if [Vanek] prevents you from advancing? If the Bruins lose this series, boy, Chiarelli will look bad.
"If Vanek is the piece, or a piece, that proves the difference in this series, then the Bruins didn't lose this series now -- they lost it in March."
Felger thinks whether the Bruins won or lost the trade deadline remains to be seen. However, it will all be sorted out starting Thursday night.
"If Thomas Vanek plays a good series and helps Montreal make the Stanley Cup Finals? I'm sorry! [Bruins] didn't do enough at the trade deadline. Scoreboard! If, however, you smother Thomas Vanek in this series and the Bruins advance, you then can say, 'See! We didn't need that guy at the trade deadline.'"
It's an interesting discussion. Listen to it in its entirety below:
A caller took issue with Felger's take on the trade deadline, and called in to let him know:
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