Chiarelli Expects Horton To Return This Season
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton missed his eighth straight game with a concussion on Tuesday night, but Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is expecting him back at some point this season.
"He's progressing, and I would think he'd be back. In the back of my head, it's that he may be something that we have to replace, but I would expect him to be back," Chiarelli said prior to the Bruins 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers. "But we look at players and say, 'Hey, maybe this player could add to our depth, but maybe he'd have to play a certain spot, too,' like Horton's spot."
Horton's injury has not only hurt the Bruins offense, but is making it difficult for Chiarelli as the February 27 trade deadline approaches. It also does not help that not many teams feel they are out of the playoff race just yet.
"I'm fairly active, it's just that there's not a lot going on," said Chiarelli. "There's a lot of teams still in it. You've heard me say that every year it seems, but it seems that every year there's more teams that are in it, it's a closer race. There are teams that may be a ways out, but they don't want to disappoint their fan base, --and I don't blame them -- by trading players, good players. And there's a lot of players that are locked up. Like, I have all the names on my board of potential UFAs, and it's not a real big list."
Chiarelli also told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich recently he wanted to add without subtracting from the current roster. On Tuesday, he echoed that keeping the team's chemistry intact is tops on his list.
"I think that's probably my priority when I look to add something. I do want to add something, and I'd like to help the team. I'd like to add to our depth. But that's a priority. It's a fine balance, chemistry, and you have to be careful."
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