By most accounts, the Boston Bruins are the most interested suitor for Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla.
Already considered one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders, Boston has been in search of a top-six forward for most of the 2013 season. Considering the additions made by the Pittsburgh Penguins over this past weekend and into Monday, the Bruins might feel an extra bit of motivation to load up for a playoff run.
However, it is not enough to force their hand with goaltending prospect Malcolm Subban.
As of Wednesday morning, the believed asking price for Iginla has been set at a first-round draft selection, a top prospect and a secondary prospect. Subban -- who was taken with the No. 24 overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft --is assumed to be the primary prospect in that equation, at least, from the Flames point of view. With current Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff entering the final year of his contract next season, Calgary is likely looking into the future without their 36-year-old goaltender.
Boston, however, doesn't appear interested in helping that future.
General manager Peter Chiarelli stated in a radio interview with Tourcher and Rich of 98.5 The Sports Hub on Wednesday that he is not trading Subban. Chiarelli sees Subban as a key piece of the Bruins' future and stated that he wasn't concerned about the team's depth at the position.
The depth he speaks of is goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin, both of whom are 26-years-old and have performed as one of the NHL's best tandems this season. Both will be free agents at the conclusion of the year (Rask will be restricted, while Khudobin will be unrestricted).
Of course, it seems unlikely that the 19-year-old Subban will be playing with the Bruins next season. Perhaps, Chiarelli envisions a seamless transition further down the road from one of his current goaltenders to Subban.
Or it could be an attempt to drive down the Flames' hefty asking price for a deadline rental.
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