Dreger: Chiarelli told me bluntly Bruins won't deal Lucic

Darren Dreger was on Montreal’s TSN 690 on Tuesday morning.

On trade talk involving Milan Lucic:

“Well, he’s not going to be traded. Pete Chiarelli told me that bluntly yesterday on the phone. He just said – Look, when you’re not doing as well as the fan base expects, or perhaps upper management, or in this case ownership. The Boston Bruins organization, this is a proud club. They know that they’re better than what their record indicates. They know that Milan Lucic can play better. Their top players need to play better for them to climb back into a place they’re comfortable with and that’s near the top of the Eastern Conference.

“So he’s kicking tires, and has been for several weeks now. I mean, Chiarelli has talked to just about everyone. His primary focus, I believe, has been on Antoine Vermette in Arizona. Obviously there’s a good relationship with Jim Benning, who’s now the general manager in Vancouver. So maybe there’s a fit there. Earlier there was a discussion with the St. Louis Blues and a winger in St. Louis. Buffalo, that dance between Tim Murray and Chiarelli has been ongoing since the offseason on Chris Stewart.

“The Bruins want to add another offensive piece. They did not replace Jarome Iginla or Nathan Horton. The injury excuse is no longer in play. So it’s a couple of things. It’s his best, including Tuukka Rask, needing to be better. But the general manager is trying to be active to find a deal that makes sense, something he can live with, and trading Milan Lucic doesn’t make sense.”

Source: TSN 690/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Related: Friedman on Bruins, Coyotes, Vermette, Lucic, Eriksson, Blues, Oshie