The Boston Bruins added another piece to their puzzle on Tuesday by acquiring tough forward Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a second round pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The move comes just days after the struggling Senators shipped long-time blueliner Mike Fisher off to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a pick, suggesting that they have embraced the lone bright spot of having a dismal record: the opportunity to rebuild.
In Kelly, the Bruins get a gritty 30-year-old who can contribute offensively when needed. Through 57 games this season Kelly has scored 12 goals and added 11 assists. He had previously played with Ottawa for the entirety of his seven-year career.
Will the addition of Kelly help improve Boston’s standing in the Eastern Conference? The 31-19-7 club is currently third in the conference but just barely atop the Northeast Division. That lead might not last long, however, as the Montreal Canadiens are dangerously close to matching them. Bet on the Bruins with Bodog.
If not for the league’s playoff seeding format, the club would be on the verge of losing home ice advantage in the East altogether. They still might if they can’t keep the Canadiens at bay over the course of the next few months. According to Bodog’s online sportsbook, the Bruins have 12/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup this year. The advantage of playing at home in the first-round will certainly help their cause if they can keep.
Though Kelly alone won’t singlehandedly reverse Boston’s current three-game losing streak, the move is indicative of the team’s approach to the rest of this season. The club is shaping up to for a playoff run that could help erase the damage of their second-round collapse last spring.